Almost 60,000 patients daily receive general anesthesia.
A drug induced reversible process that includes unconsciousness, amnesia, analgesia, akinesia with effects on the autonomic, cardiovascular, pulmonary and thermoregulatory systems.
Produces progressive increase in low frequency, high amplitude EEG activity as general anesthesia deepens.
Induces a reversible coma.
Before general anesthesia a normal EEG exists with prominent alpha activity when the eyes are closed.
With the administration of a a small hypnotic agent such as propofol, or a barbituate which act on gamma-aminobutyric acis type A (GABA) receptors, sedation occurs with calmness and persistent arousability.