TED-Ed: How does anesthesia work? - Steven Zheng

Anesthesia is a complex medical practice that allows surgeries to be performed without trauma. It involves making patients unconscious and unable to feel pain, move, or form memories. Historically, anesthetics included substances like opium and alcohol. Modern anesthesia uses a combination of regional, inhalational, and intravenous agents to achieve the desired effects. Regional anesthetics block pain signals, while inhalational and intravenous anesthetics affect the entire nervous system. Despite their benefits, anesthetics can have serious side effects, requiring careful monitoring by anesthesiologists. The development of anesthesia has enabled safer and more advanced surgical procedures.

Explain how general anesthetics affect electrical signals in the nervous system.

What are some potential side effects of modern anesthetics?