: Ranges from minimal anxiolysis to deep sedation where the patient may still respond to purposeful stimulation.
Contemporary practice generally categorizes anesthesia into four primary domains, as noted by UCLA Health :
: The Guidelines to the Practice of Anesthesia (Revised Edition 2020/2021) is the standard-setting document for anesthetic care. It covers everything from equipment and pre-anesthetic periods to specific techniques like neuraxial and peripheral nerve blocks. Full-text and downloadable sections are often available through PMC .
: Targeted numbing of a specific area, often following the "3-5-7 rule" for maximum toxic doses (e.g., 5mg/kg for lidocaine) Kijabe Anesthesia . Key Clinical Safety Rules
: Established by the ASA to prevent aspiration. Patients may typically have clear liquids up to 2 hours before surgery and light meals up to 6 hours PMC .
The following professional bodies and journals offer comprehensive reviews and, in some cases, downloadable supplemental files (DOCX/PDF) regarding anesthetic techniques: