I have heard that anesthesia is "like poisoning someone near to the point of death and then reviving them, " and thatyou're "not breathing on your own." is it true?

2 X 4: There are alternatives. Accupuncture for example can allow someone to perform a c-section or removal of thyroid gland. Since boys at harvard did first anesthesia procedure (cool large picture in library entrance) most have faired well.

It is safe: Anethesia is safe for healthy patients. I often tell patients that is more dangerous for you to drive than to undergo anethesia. Patients placed under anethesia are constantly monitored to assure safety with a md or crna next to the patient to make the necessary adjustments.

Not even close: Many patients under general anesthesia breathe on their own. Anesthesia is extremely safe (safer than driving ur car). If the patient is undergoing an open thoracic or open or laparoscopic abdominal procedure they will need some amount of muscle relaxation. Most other procedures I have patients breathe for themselves whether they are intubated or have an lma.

Untrue: Anesthesiology is the science of delivering various medications to patients in order to allow them to undergo procedures safely. All bodily functions, except for spontaneous ventilation, remain intact. The medications that are administered do have effects on body functions, however, the idea that you are brought to the point of death and then revived is a myth.

No and Yes: It is not anything like poisoning people near to the point of death. A patient is placed in a chemically induced coma so that they do not feel any of the surgery. It is true that with a full general anesthetic we place a breathing tube, but that is because you are so comfortable that you might forget to do it.