Administration of General Anesthesia - Introduction

The primary goals of general anesthesia are to maintain the health of the patient while safely providing amnesia, hypnosis (lack of awareness), analgesia, and immobility. Secondary goals may vary depending on the patient's medical condition, the surgical procedure, and the surgical setting (e.g., outpatient surgical unit versus inpatient operating room [OR]). Perioperative planning involves the integration of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care. Flexibility, the ability to anticipate problems before they occur, and the ability to execute contingency plans are skills that define the expert anesthetist.

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