Dr. Andrei Nigovski, head of the Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation at the National Medical Research Center, points out that anesthesia is considered a protection against surgical intervention, that is, it protects the body from shock and stress.
He explained that, based on this data, anesthesia does not shorten life, but on the contrary, it may contribute to prolonging it, because it helps patients tolerate surgical procedures better and enhances their chances of recovery.
He added that, despite this, some complications may occur during surgery, such as circulatory problems, including high blood pressure or blood loss. However, the anesthesiologist, as the one responsible for maintaining the patient's life and stability during the procedure, must anticipate these complications, manage them, and minimize their effects, whether by replacing lost blood or resorting to artificial ventilation when necessary.
He pointed out that the choice of anesthesia depends on the nature of the surgical procedure. In lower limb surgeries, spinal anesthesia, epidural anesthesia, or peripheral nerve blocks are usually used. However, in abdominal surgeries, which require, in addition to anesthesia, sufficient muscle relaxation to enable surgeons to perform the operation correctly, general anesthesia is used, and may be combined with tracheal anesthesia and artificial ventilation of the lungs, or with epidural anesthesia, depending on the case.
He pointed out that in short surgical procedures, general intravenous anesthesia can be used.
