Why is this method chosen for children?
Sevoran (sevoflurane) is an inhalation anesthetic with a pleasant, mild odor that does not irritate the respiratory tract. That is why it is used for the so-called mask induction: the child falls asleep simply by breathing through the mask, and a catheter is installed in the vein after he has fallen asleep. For a small patient, this eliminates the most frightening moment - an injection in consciousness.
The depth of anesthesia is regulated by the gas concentration in the respiratory mixture and changes within minutes, which gives the anesthesiologist high control. Sevoflurane is cleared rapidly through the lungs, so awakening occurs soon after the supply is stopped, and residual drowsiness is less pronounced than with many intravenous drugs.
Mask anesthesia is used for short interventions and diagnostic procedures that do not require respiratory protection and complete muscle relaxation: dental treatment in children, dressings, reduction of dislocations, MRI in restless patients. During long-term abdominal operations, sevoflurane is also used, but as part of combined anesthesia with tracheal intubation. Possible side effects include agitation upon awakening in some children and nausea, usually short-lived.
Who is responsible for security
An anesthesiologist-resuscitator is a doctor who manages the patient’s vital functions throughout the operation: breathing, blood circulation, level of consciousness and pain relief. The surgeon deals with the intervention, the anesthesiologist deals with the human condition.
Modern anesthesia is based on continuous monitoring. Deviations in indicators are visible in seconds, which allows you to intervene in advance. That is why an examination by an anesthesiologist before surgery is mandatory, and not formal: the choice of drugs and doses depends on the collected anamnesis.
Why can't you eat before anesthesia?
Under general anesthesia, the muscles, including those that hold the contents of the stomach, relax. Food and liquid can get into the airways, a condition called aspiration and one of the most dangerous complications of anesthesia.
Therefore, the fasting rule - 6-8 hours for solid foods and 2-4 hours for clear liquids - is strictly observed. Violation of this rule is grounds for rescheduling elective surgery.
What influences the choice of method
The volume and duration of the intervention, age, weight, condition of the heart, lungs and liver, allergies, medications and previous anesthesia experience are taken into account. In children, inhalation methods are more often used, in the elderly - drugs with rapid elimination.
In most cases, several options are possible, and the anesthesiologist discusses them with the patient. The final decision is made jointly, taking into account risks and preferences.