Types of Anesthesia

General anesthesia is most commonly used for major operations, such as knee and hip replacements, heart
surgeries, and many types of surgical procedures. general anesthesia places the entire body, including the brain,
into a state of unconsciousness (sleep) during which the patient has no awareness and feels nothing, and will
remember nothing of the surgical experience. It is administered by injection or through a breathing mask, or
sometimes both.

Regional anesthesia is the injection of a local anesthetic around major nerves or the spinal cord to block pain from
a large region of the body, such as a limb. Regional anesthesia provides muscle relaxation as well as postoperative
pain relief since its numbing effects can last 8 to 12 hours, depending upon the dose. This reduces the need for
pain medicine after surgery, as well as other side effects of surgery, such as nausea. Examples include
an epidural to ease the pain of childbirth or during a cesarean section (C-section), a spinal for hip or knee surgery,
or an arm block for hand surgery.

Local anesthesia: This treatment numbs a small section of the body. Examples of procedures in which local
anesthesia could be used include cataract surgery, a dental procedure or skin biopsy. You’re awake during the
procedure.

Epidural and Spinal Anesthesia can be used for most surgeries below the belly button. In order to get an epidural
or spinal anesthesia, an IV must first be inserted since these procedures require the patient to be properly
hydrated. is administered in the lower back/lumbar region using a special needle that is inserted between the
vertebrae of the spinal column into the epidural space around the spine.

Principles of Aseptic Technique

 Regular hand washing

 Use of nonsterile or sterile gloves when handling likely sources of pathogens, including high-risk patients
(e.g., patients with known infection or wounds), equipment (e.g., contaminated sponges), and hospital
surfaces
 Cleaning or disposal of equipment between patients
 Containment of contaminated supplies and equipment
 Proper storage of equipment
 Regular equipment cleaning protocols
 Proper handling of soiled laundry
 Scheduled cleaning of hospital surfaces
 Minimizing unnecessary traffic
 Isolation of patients with known pathogenic microorganisms
 Only sterile items are used within sterile field.
 Sterile objects become unsterile when touched by unsterile objects.
 Sterile items that are out of vision or below the waist level of the nurse are considered unsterile.
 Sterile objects can become unsterile by prolong exposure to airborne microorganisms.
 Moisture that passes through a sterile object draws microorganism from unsterile surfaces above or
below to the surface by capillary reaction.
 The edges of a sterile field are considered unsterile.
 The skin cannot be sterilized and is unsterile.
 Conscientiousness, alertness and honesty are essential qualities in maintaining surgical asepsis