What is general anesthesia?

This refers to supressing the pain-sensing central nervous system and a state of unconsciousness produced by anesthetic drugs. In general, anesthesia patients are given a combination of gases through the respiratory system and/or drugs in the veins. There's no perceived sensation throughout the body and some degree of muscle relaxation, which allows surgery or other procedures to be done pain free.

What is regional anesthesia?

Regional anesthesia blocks pain to only part of the body without the patient losing consciousness. It involves injecting drugs that block pain signals from reaching the brain. These drugs can be injected into the cerebrospinal fluid of the spinal cord, around a group of nerves outside of the spinal cord, or in a specific region of the body such as the chest, abdomen, or pelvis and legs.

Epidural is one type of regional anesthesia. It's produced by injecting the anesthetic agent between the intervertebral spaces of the spine and beneath the ligamentum flavum into the extradural space. It's also called peridural anesthesia.

Spinal is another type of regional anesthesia. It's produced by injecting a local anesthetic into the spinal fluid which surrounds the spinal cord.

What types of anesthesia may be recommended for heart disease patients?

In order to develop an individualized plan to achieve the best outcome during and after surgery for those with pre-existing heart disease, the decision regarding the most appropriate type of anesthesia agent and technique (e.g., general, regional) should be based on coordination between the anesthesiologist and surgeon. Each type of approach has specific implications for management by healthcare providers during and after surgery.

If you are considering surgery, it is best to discuss options for anesthesia use as well as the benefits and risks associated with different agents and techniques.