A 35-year-old client is admitted for elective tubal ligation. During the preoperative teaching, the client states, 'The anesthesiologist said she was going to give me balanced anesthesia. What exactly is that?' The best explanation by the nurse is that balanced anesthesia:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A regional anesthesia does not produce loss of consciousness and is indicated for excision of moles, cysts, and endoscopic surgeries. Varying amounts of anesthetic agents are used when employing balanced anesthesia. The amounts used depend on the age, weight, condition of the client and the surgical procedure. General anesthesia is a drug induced depression of the central nervous system, which produces loss of consciousness and decreased muscle activity. Balanced anesthesia is a combination of a number of anesthetic agents that produce a smooth induction, appropriate depth of anesthesia, and appropriate muscle relaxation with minimal complications.