Articles: general-anesthesia.
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J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg. · Aug 1992
Practice Guideline GuidelineThe prevention and treatment of aspiration of vomitus during pharmacosedation and general anesthesia.
The aspiration of gastric contents can occur in patients with a depressed level of consciousness. Pulmonary aspiration is a serious potential complication of pharmacosedation and general anesthesia. ⋯ Treatment of aspiration is dependent on the nature of the aspirate. Identifying aspiration-susceptible patients, employing preventive measures, and using careful anesthetic technique can effectively reduce the risk of aspiration.
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Minor short-term depression of mental function is seen after anaesthesia and surgery. However, general anaesthesia does not seem to cause permanent damage or depress mental function beyond the first 2-4 postoperative days and no significant advantages of regional anaesthesia, as regards to cerebral function, are found after this period. ⋯ The risk of mental disturbance is increased in patients with psychiatric disease or presenile dementia and may be due to ongoing treatment with tricyclic antidepressant and neuroleptic drugs. Centrally acting cholinergic drugs, hypotension and hypoxia together with postoperative pain and sleep deprivation should be avoided.