Balanced Anesthesia Definition, Components, Technique, Protocol

Balanced anesthesia is the combination of drugs used to depress central nervous system. The combination of these drugs enhance the positive aspects of all drugs. When all the neuro depressant drugs combined it gives more efficient result and along with this, the disadvantages of these drugs reduces to nothing. The drugs used are combined in a minute quantity to control the dosage. The smaller doses of more than one drug with same result is considered more effective and safer as compared to larger dose of a single drug. The drugs which are combined may be of different specific effects like amnesia, unconsciousness, analgesia and muscle relaxation.

Basically balanced anesthesia consist of preoperative medications like cholinergic drugs. Cholinergic drugs are used to decrease the secretions of body. These drugs helps a lot in intubation and control bradycardia which is associated with neural depression. Other than cholinergic drugs, sedative and hypnotics are also used to relax patient. Sedatives also facilitate amnesia. Other than these anti emetics and antihistamines are used. There is a fixed proportion of doses of these drugs, which should not be changed, as changing this dosage proportion may change the effectiveness of balanced anesthesia.

Balanced Anesthesia Definition, Components, Technique, Protocol

Balanced Anesthesia Components


The basic components of balanced anesthesia include amnesia, unconsciousness and analgesia. Amnesia is the loss of memory and pain or distress. Analgesia is the pain relief. Other than these, muscle relaxation, reversibility and diminished motor response towards noxious stimuli are also the basic components if balanced anesthesia. These are the main classes of drugs and any drug of these class can be used in proportion to other drugs. The quantity of these drugs should be managed according to the condition of patient. The effectiveness of these drugs enhance when combined together with a visible reduction in disadvantages.

Balanced Anesthesia Technique


Balanced anesthesia is injected to patients in a same way as general anesthesia is injected. The technique used is named as rapid sequence induction. Basically fantanyl is used as an anesthetic in balanced anesthesia. Patient is preoxygenated for almost 1 to 3 minutes. The intravenous injection should not be followed by mask ventilation. The potential risk associated with rapid sequence induction is the loss of airway. Preventilation is necessary for oxygen richness in patient. As this will reduce the risks of rapid sequence induction. Close monitoring is required for the introduction of balanced anesthesia in patient.

Balanced Anesthesia Protocol


Balanced anesthesia is basically a name given to drug protocols designed to facilitate patient in every phase of anesthesia. It is first tested in small animals. These phases start from preoperative analgesia and sedation and pass through surgical anesthesia up to recovery. Small doses of drugs are used to avoid the over dependence of one drug used for anesthetic purpose. As the beneficial aspects increases while combining these drugs. It also reduces the side effects of drugs along with the disadvantages of these drugs. It is found convenient and more effective as compare to single drug used in anesthesia.