I hear a lot about localized and general anethesia. what's the difference between the two?

Awake vs Sleeping: Localized anesthesia is intended to block pain to a certain area of the body, but you're still "awake." generalized anesthesia involves sedating the patient and essentially placing them into a medically induced coma ("sleep") which is reversed at the end of the procedure.

Awake vs. Asleep: Local anesthesia involves injecting numbing medicine just under the skin; this is limited to superficial operations ("lumps and bumps") because muscle cannot be numbed. General anesthesia involves administering inhalational agents to depress one's level of consciousness (+/-other meds to paralyze muscles and rx pain). Most major operations (esp in a body cavity) require general anesthesia.

Control of airway: With general anesthesia your airway will be controlled and a machine will aasist your lung function. With a local, you breath without mechanical support and medication at the site of surgery numbs the area allowing your surgeon to work.

Effects: Local anesthesia is where a medication is injected into a small area (back of the hand, face, etc) to provide numbness. A general anesthetic is when the patient is put completely to sleep which allows larger procedures to be performed.