Differentiate among types of anesthesia.

Differentiation should include a description of

  • topical anesthesia
  • local anesthesia (e.g., epinephrine, lidocaine [with or without epinephrine])
  • general anesthesia.

Process/Skill Questions: 

  • Why is anesthesia important in many minor surgical procedures?
  • What is the purpose of a topical anesthetic, a local anesthetic, and a general anesthetic? In what types of surgery might each anesthetic be used?
  • What are the potential risks of various common anesthetics?
  • What precautions must be taken when applying anesthetics?