Dr Sonny Rubin: Are There Non-Surgical Medical Practices That Use Anesthesia?

When anesthesia is mentioned, it is often associated with surgical procedures. However, its use is not limited to the operating room alone. Anesthesia serves in a variety of non-surgical medical practices, playing a critical role in patient comfort and diagnostic efficiency. Dr Sonny Rubin sheds light on the often-overlooked areas where anesthesia is judiciously applied in non-surgical medical settings.

Facilitating Accurate Diagnostic Procedures

Certain diagnostic procedures, such as colonoscopies and endoscopies, mandate the patient’s absolute stillness for precise results. Anesthesia becomes instrumental in such cases, helping ensure the patient stays relaxed and comfortable to obtain accurate readings and images.

Interventional Radiology and Anesthesia

Interventional radiology encompasses procedures where guidance from imaging techniques is used to perform minimally invasive treatments. These could cause discomfort and therefore, the administration of anesthesia, generally local or sedative, is vital. This extends from performing biopsies to inserting catheters or stents into blood vessels Dr Sonny Rubin.

Assisting in Painful Therapies

Therapies including some cancer treatments or wound debridement can cause substantial discomfort. Anesthesia shines in these settings too, providing analgesia and sedation where required, and making the therapy tolerable for the patient.

Psychiatric Practices – ECT and Anesthesia

In psychiatric practices, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is one such treatment where anesthesia is necessary. Used for severe depression and other mental health conditions, the brief seizure induced by ECT is made comfortable and safe by employing short-acting general anesthesia.

Application in Dentistry

In the realm of dentistry, anesthesia plays a role in everything from basic dental procedures like fillings and extractions to broader oral surgeries. Whether it’s local anesthesia, conscious sedation, or in some cases, even general anesthesia, dental practices leverage these interventions for patient comfort.

The Role of Anesthesia in Chronic Pain Management

Chronic pain management is another field where anesthesia comes into play. Anesthesiologists administer targeted nerve blocks, implant devices for pain control, and perform other interventions that considerably ease chronic pain associated with conditions like cancer, arthritis, or nerve damage Dr Sonny Rubin.