Definition

Noun: A medically induced state of total unconsciousness and loss of sensation throughout the entire body, typically administered for major surgical procedures. The patient is completely unaware and does not feel pain during the operation.

Usage

"General anesthesia" is an uncountable noun. It refers to the medical technique and the resulting state itself. It is administered by a specialist (an anesthesiologist) and involves the use of injectable and/or inhaled drugs. * The surgery required general anesthesia. * The patient was placed under general anesthesia for the procedure. * The risks and benefits of general anesthesia were explained.

Examples

• General anesthesia is commonly used for open-heart surgery.
• After administering general anesthesia, the surgical team began the operation.
• Recovery from general anesthesia can take several hours.

Advanced Usage

• "to be under general anesthesia": To be in the state of total unconsciousness induced by anesthetic drugs.
  • The patient was under general anesthesia for three hours.
• "to administer general anesthesia": To give the drugs that cause this state.
  • The anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia at the start of the surgery.

Variants and Related Words

• General anaesthesia (noun): The British English spelling variant.
• Anesthesia / Anaesthesia (noun): The broader term for loss of sensation, which can be local (affecting a small area) or general.
• Sedation (noun): A medically induced state of calmness or drowsiness, but not total unconsciousness like general anesthesia.

Synonyms

• General anesthetic (noun): Can refer to the drugs used or the state they produce. (Note: This is a related compound term, not the exact target phrase).
• Complete anesthesia

Antonyms

• Local anesthesia (noun): Induces loss of sensation in a specific, limited part of the body while the patient remains awake.
• Regional anesthesia (noun): Numbs a larger region of the body, such as an entire limb.
• Consciousness (noun): The state of being awake and aware.

Noun

1. a state of total unconsciousness resulting from anesthetic drugs (as for a major surgical operation)