Anaesthesia News

Slow-release anaesthetic created

A new, slow-release injectable nerve block could be a long-lasting local anaesthetic for the treatment of pain during and after surgery, US researchers say.

Clues to waking in surgery

Light anaesthesia and a history of awareness are major risk factors for "waking up" while under general anaesthesia, researchers report.

Epidurals safer than thought

Major complications with epidural and spinal anaesthesia are very uncommon, according to UK researchers.

Anti-anaesthesia drug effective

An experimental drug worked many times faster than a standard treatment in helping surgery patients recover from anaesthesia, according to a just-published study.

Anaesthesia boosts post-op pain

Most general anaesthetics used to put patients to sleep during surgery can increase the discomfort patients feel when they wake up, according to researchers.

Russia runs out of anaesthetics

Going under the knife in Russia's underfunded hospitals became more stressful this week as doctors warned the country was running out of anaesthetics.

Robot anaesthetist developed

A prototype robot that can induce a general anaesthetic for operations has been developed and tested on some 200 patients, the project team leader has announced.

Anaesthetic pouch aids recovery

Children recovering from orthopaedic surgery feel less pain and leave the hospital sooner when they go home with a small anaesthetic pouch that delivers a local numbing medication.

Breakthrough in anaesthesia

A new approach to anaesthesia using the chemical that gives chili peppers their kick, promises an improved way to treat pain in surgery, dentistry and childbirth.

Anaesthetics harming kids?

Animal studies that suggest that anaesthesia can be harmful to developing brains have raised concerns about potential risks for young children who have surgery.