anesthetic

(noun)

A substance administered to reduce the perception of pain or to induce numbness. An anesthetic may or may not render the recipient unconscious, depending upon the type used.

Related Terms

Examples of anesthetic in the following topics:

  • Dental Anesthesia

    • Other local anesthetics in current use include articaine, septocaine, marcaine (a long-acting anesthetic), and mepivacaine.
    • An injection of local anesthetic directly into this nerve blocks sensation.
    • Several non-dental nerves are usually anesthetized during an inferior alveolar block.
    • For example, the lingual nerve can be anesthetized to produce a numb tongue.
    • The facial nerve lies some distance from the inferior alveolar nerve, but in rare cases anesthetic can diffuse far enough posteriorly to anesthetize that nerve.

  • Intubation During Anesthesia

    • It is frequently performed in critically injured, ill, or anesthetized patients to facilitate ventilation of the lungs, and to prevent the possibility of asphyxiation or airway obstruction.
    • Perhaps the most common indication for tracheal intubation is for the placement of a conduit through which nitrous oxide or volatile anesthetics may be administered.
    • General anesthetic agents, opioids, and neuromuscular-blocking drugs may diminish or even abolish the respiratory drive.

  • Nitrogen Compounds

    • Another molecule of the same structure is the colorless and relatively inert anesthetic gas nitrous oxide (dinitrogen monoxide, N2O), also known as laughing gas.
    • Nitrous oxide (N2O) was discovered early in the 19th century to be a partial anesthetic, though it was not used as a surgical anesthetic until later.

  • Epidural Anesthesia

    • The catheter is a fine plastic tube, through which anesthetics may be injected into the epidural space .

  • Surgical Sterilization

    • This generally involves a general anesthetic and a laparotomy or laparoscopic approach to cut, clip, or cauterize the fallopian tubes.

  • Cystoscopy

    • Typically, a topical anesthetic, most often xylocaine gel (common brand names are Anestacon and Instillagel), is employed.

  • Steroids

    • Since these neurosteroids can tone down receptors and decrease brain activity, steroids are often used in anesthetic medicines.

  • Laryngitis and Cancer of the Larynx

    • Local anesthetic spray may be used.
    • If there is a suspicion of cancer, biopsy is performed, usually under general anesthetic.

  • Analgesia: Relief from Pain

    • They are distinct from anesthetics, which reversibly eliminate sensation.
    • In this technique, a catheter is inserted 4-6cm into the epidural space (the outermost part of the spinal canal, outside the dura matter), allowing analgesics (typically opioids) and anesthetics to be injected directly into the nervous system.

  • Complete Antigens and Haptens

    • This also appears to be the mechanism by which the anesthetic gas halothane can cause a life-threatening hepatitis, as well as the mechanism by which penicillin-class drugs cause autoimmune hemolytic anemia.