General anesthesia achieved by inhalation of an anesthetic gas or volatile liquid; widely used inhalation anesthetics include cyclopropane, halothane, enflurane, and isoflurane.
A method of giving medication that is inhaled into the lungs as an anesthetic gas to suppress pain. Nitrous oxide, known as “laughing gas,” is an odorless, colorless gas that was one of the first effective anesthetics discovered and is still the most widely used inhaled anesthetic agent, especially for dental procedures. Nitrous oxide is commonly administered with other intravenous anesthetics or other medications to decrease anxiety, relax the patient, and enhance the effectiveness of the other intravenous medications.
A method that provides pain-suppressing medication through a small, flexible tube (intravenous catheter) inserted into a vein, usually in the hand or lower arm. Intravenous anesthesia can be used for general anesthesia, conscious sedation, or regional anesthesia.
General anesthesia produced by the inhalation of vapor or gaseous anesthetics (e.g., ether, nitrous oxide, and methoxyflurane).
Anesthesia brought about by inhaling anesthetic vapor.