anesthesia
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anesthesia
A medical procedure in which a patient's perception of pain is switched off, often for an operation. This can happen locally in a specific area (local anesthesia) or throughout the whole body (general anesthesia).
Vor der Operation erhielt der Patient eine Vollnarkose, die Form der Anästhesie, bei der er schlief.
Before the operation, the patient received general anesthesia, the form of anesthesia in which he was asleep.
The word comes from Greek. The prefix 'an-' means 'without' and 'aisthesis' means 'perception' or 'sensation'. Anesthesia is therefore literally a state without sensation.
Die Wirkung der Anästhesie ließ langsam nach.
The effect of the anesthesia slowly wore off.
'Anästhesie' (anesthesia) is a medical technical term. In everyday conversation about an operation, the word 'Narkose' (anesthesia) or 'Vollnarkose' (general anesthesia) is often used when general anesthesia is meant.
Der Arzt erklärte die Risiken der Anästhesie.
The doctor explained the risks of the anesthesia.
When referring to the procedure, 'Anästhesie' (anesthesia) is often used with certain verbs: You can 'bekommen' (get) or 'erhalten' (receive) anesthesia. The doctor can 'einleiten' (initiate) or 'durchführen' (perform) anesthesia.
Der Patient bekommt vor dem Eingriff eine lokale Anästhesie.
The patient is given local anesthesia before the procedure.
You can often recognize the meaning 'medical specialty' from verbs like 'studieren' (to study) or 'sich spezialisieren auf' (to specialize in). Job titles such as 'Facharzt für Anästhesie' (specialist in anesthesiology) or department names also point to this meaning.
Sie arbeitet als Ärztin in der Abteilung für Anästhesie und Intensivmedizin.
She works as a doctor in the department of anesthesiology and intensive care medicine.
anesthesia / numbness
'Betäubung' and 'Anästhesie' can both mean that pain is switched off by a medical procedure. 'Betäubung' is the more everyday word and often describes the state: you do not feel pain in one area or during a procedure. 'Anästhesie' sounds more medical and refers more to the procedure itself, or also to the medical specialty in a hospital. The words can be confusing because they are closely related in medicine. When talking with patients, people often say 'Betäubung'; in more technical texts or in the hospital, you will hear 'Anästhesie' more often.
Vor der Operation erklärt die Ärztin aus der Anästhesie den Ablauf.
Before the operation, the doctor from anesthesiology explains the process.
Beim kleinen Eingriff reicht eine Betäubung am Arm.
For the small procedure, anesthesia in the arm is enough.