Anesthetic (definition of)

An anesthetic is anything that blocks bodily sensations, particularly pain, itching and other forms of irritation. An anesthetic is usually administered prior to surgery; it may be local or general.

A local anesthetic numbs only that part of the body that is being operated on. This is appropriate for minor surgeries such as hemorrhoids and most kinds of dental procedures. When it comes to major surgery, such as for the removal of cancer, a general anesthetic must be used.

In past decades, anesthesia was usually administered in the form of ether or nitrous oxide ("laughing gas"). Today, an intravenous sedative is usually given prior to surgery.

Because a patient under general anesthesia cannot maintain his/her own functions such as breathing and swallowing, it is important that s/he be attended at all times; in fact, anesthesia is a specialty all its own, and under the privatized, profit-driven U.S. health care "system," is usually billed for separately and not covered under insurance.