anesthesia

Medications which block pain and other sensations, sometimes rendering the patient unconscious, for the performance of surgical procedures. Levels of anesthesia can be general, regional or local. General anesthetic puts a patient to sleep. Local anesthetic causes loss of feeling in a part of the body such as a a tooth or an area of skin without affecting consciousness. Regional anesthetic numbs a larger part of the body with affecting consciousness. Conduction anesthetic (often used in procedures such as a C-Section) encompasses both local and regional anesthetic techniques, allowing surgical procedures to be done without significant pain. Also spelled anaesthesia.