Date of Award

2014

Type

Thesis

Major

Nursing

Degree Type

Bachelor Of Science in Nursing

Department

Health, Physical Education, and Exercise Science

First Advisor

Sally Richter

Second Advisor

Dr. Dell Miller

Third Advisor

Dr. Monica Frazier

Abstract

Anesthesia has been a necessity in the field of health care since it was discovered in the early to middle 1800s. Before anesthesia, many procedures and surgeries that are now considered an easy fix were life-threatening and patients often chose the inevitable death over the pain of surgery. The idea was stumbled upon when "laughing gas," nitrous oxide, was inhaled and credited in "produc[ing] a state of intoxication during which people became highly amused and insensitive to pain" (Palo Alto, 2013, para. 2). Anesthesia has come an unbelievably long way since the first surgery under anesthesia was performed by Dr. Crawford Long in Jefferson, Georgia in 1842 (Long, 1849). The industry boomed after World War II and recently in the past 20 years. As technology continues to advance, research on ways to prevent the common side effects of nausea and vomiting and the complications of respiratory collapse have been well controlled with the introduction of the laryngeal mask (Mayo Clinic, 2013). A recent concern for at risk populations, such as children and the elderly, has stirred a great deal of research on the effects anesthetics may have on the cognitive function and long term health of children and individuals over 65 years of age. This paper will summarize the most recent research conducted comparing the best practices for anesthesia in these two populations. It will compare general anesthesia to intravenous procedural sedation and their effects on the cognitive function and long term health and wellbeing of elderly and pediatric patients.

General anesthesia is a controlled and reversible state of unconsciousness with amnesia, muscle paralysis, sedative, and analgesic features. It can be administered via inhalation or intravenously with rapid onset. General anesthesia can be manipulated easily throughout surgery and can keep a patient unconscious for prolonged periods of time (Johns Hopkins, n. d.). Airway patency and respiration is easily controlled without manipulation of the patient's current position. Recent advances have decreased risks usually associated with general anesthesia such as nausea, vomiting, sore throat from intubation, and incisional pain. However, downfalls to general anesthesia include cost, patient compliance to a fasting regimen up to 6 hours before scheduled surgery, and continuous supervision by an anesthesiologist or certified registered nurse anesthetist in case of complications during procedure (Press, 2013).

Comments

Honors Thesis

Download
DAISY

Share

COinS