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The Daily Insight

What are the general anesthesia drugs used in surgery?

Author

William Smith

Updated on April 04, 2026

Propofol, etomidate, and ketamine are the intravenous (IV) sedative-hypnotic agents commonly used to induce general anesthesia (table 1).

Is general anesthesia major surgery?

While there are many types and levels of anesthesia — medication to keep you from feeling pain during surgery — general anesthesia is most commonly used for major operations, such as knee and hip replacements, heart surgeries, and many types of surgical procedures to treat cancer.

What is General Orotracheal anesthesia?

General endotracheal anesthesia is introduced and a double lumen tube is used for one lung ventilation. The patient is placed in the lateral decubitus position with the appropriate side up, as done in the posterolateral approach. The entire upper extremity is prepped and draped sterilely out of the operative field.

Does general anesthesia numb your whole body?

General anesthesia affects your entire body. Other types of anesthesia affect specific regions. Local anesthesia—such as a shot of novocaine from the dentist—numbs only a small part of your body for a short period of time. Regional anesthesia numbs a larger area—such as everything below the waist—for a few hours.

Does general anesthesia always intubate?

Intubation is required when general anesthesia is given. The anesthesia drugs paralyze the muscles of the body, including the diaphragm, which makes it impossible to take a breath without a ventilator. Most patients are extubated, meaning the breathing tube is removed, immediately after surgery.

How long does general anesthesia last?

If you had general anesthesia or were sedated, don’t expect to be fully awake right away — it may take a while and you may doze off for a bit. It usually takes about 45 minutes to an hour to recover completely from general anesthesia.

How long does anesthesia stay in your body?

Anesthetic drugs can stay in your system for up to 24 hours. If you’ve had sedation or regional or general anesthesia, you shouldn’t return to work or drive until the drugs have left your body. After local anesthesia, you should be able to resume normal activities, as long as your healthcare provider says it’s okay.

What is general anesthesia and how does it work?

General anesthesia is a procedure by which a person is put into sleep like state for the performance of surgery or other painful medical procedures. Although anesthesia was used throughout history, in primitive forms, to help in performing surgeries, the world was introduced to what is general…

What is the difference between open and semi-open general anesthesia?

The semi-open general anesthesia method is similar to open method but the dilution with air is prevented by using either layer of gauze between face or the mask or a well-fitting mask like Ogston’s mask. A bit of carbon dioxide build-up occurs with this method.

How common is unintended intraoperative awareness during general anesthesia?

Estimates vary, but about 1 or 2 people in every 1,000 may be partially awake during general anesthesia and experience what is called unintended intraoperative awareness. It is even rarer to experience pain, but this can occur as well.

What kind of anesthesia does my healthcare provider use?

The anesthesia your healthcare provider uses depends on the type and scope of the procedure. Options include: Local anesthesia: This treatment numbs a small section of the body. Examples of procedures in which local anesthesia could be used include cataract surgery, a dental procedure or skin biopsy. You’re awake during the procedure.