Anesthesia in Spanish

How anesthesia is given, and by whom

MedlinePlus says the medicine used for anesthesia may be given by injection, inhalation, topical lotion, spray, eye drops, or a skin patch. In some cases a dentist, nurse, or doctor may give an anesthetic; in other cases a person may need an anesthesiologist. MedlinePlus lists the uses of anesthesia as minor procedures, such as filling a tooth; childbirth or procedures such as colonoscopies; and minor and major surgeries.

Sedation words heard alongside anesthesia

MedlinePlus names three levels of sedation. With minimal sedation a person is awake but more relaxed. With moderate sedation, also called conscious sedation, a person may feel sleepy and not remember much, but can still respond when spoken to or touched. With deep sedation a person is very drowsy and may respond only to repeated or stronger stimulation. Monitored sedation is listed with the types of anesthesia: it makes a person relaxed or sleepy.

What it means

Anesthesia is the use of medicines, called anesthetics, to prevent pain during surgery and other medical procedures. It can cause a loss of feeling, awareness, or both. There are several different types. Local anesthesia numbs a small area, like a tooth or a cut that needs stitches, and the person is awake. Regional anesthesia numbs a larger area, like an arm, a leg, or everything below the waist. General anesthesia affects the whole body and feels like a deep sleep. Sedation may be used with anesthesia; unlike full anesthesia, it does not make a person completely unconscious. An anesthesiologist is a doctor who specializes in giving anesthesia. Overall health, medical history, the procedure and other factors help determine the type of anesthesia a person receives.

Anesthesia in Spanish

Spanish term: Anestesia
Gender and article: feminine: la anestesia
Pronunciation: ah-nehs-TEH-syah

Anestesia is a feminine noun in the Real Academia Española dictionary, which defines it first as pérdida temporal de las sensaciones de tacto y dolor producida por un medicamento. The same entry has a further sense, sustancia anestésica, so in Spanish the one word can name the loss of feeling and the substance that produces it. MedlinePlus en español calls the medicines anestésicos and the specialist doctor an anestesiólogo.

The types are named with the adjective after the noun: anestesia local, anestesia regional and anestesia general. The National Cancer Institute's Spanish dictionary describes them in the same terms as its English entry: loss of feeling in a small area of the body, in a part of the body such as an arm or a leg, and a complete loss of feeling and awareness that feels like a very deep sleep. For sedation MedlinePlus en español writes sedación, with the levels sedación mínima, sedación moderada o consciente and sedación profunda.

Phrases for an appointment

What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:

Who	English	Spanish
Clinician	Have you ever had anesthesia before? Did you have any problems with it?	¿Le han puesto anestesia alguna vez? ¿Tuvo algún problema con ella?
Patient	Will I be conscious or unconscious during the procedure?	¿Voy a estar consciente o inconsciente durante el procedimiento?
Clinician	For this procedure we use local anesthesia; it numbs only a small area.	Para este procedimiento usamos anestesia local; adormece solo un área pequeña.
Patient	Who is going to give me the anesthesia?	¿Quién me va a poner la anestesia?
Clinician	The anesthesiologist will talk with you before the surgery.	El anestesiólogo o la anestesióloga hablará con usted antes de la cirugía.
Clinician	Are you allergic to any medicine, or has anyone in your family had a reaction to anesthesia?	¿Tiene alergia a algún medicamento, o alguien de su familia ha tenido una reacción a la anestesia?
Patient	What are the risks of general anesthesia in my case?	¿Cuáles son los riesgos de la anestesia general en mi caso?
Patient	How long will it take for the anesthesia to wear off?	¿Cuánto tiempo tardará en pasar el efecto de la anestesia?

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	Anesthesia
Spanish (Español)	Anestesia
Chinese (中文)	麻醉
Korean (한국어)	마취
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)	Gây mê/gây tê
Filipino (Tagalog)	Anesthesia
Portuguese (Português)	Anestesia
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	การวางยาสลบ
Japanese (日本語)	麻酔

Where you'll see it

chartoperative reportsurgical consent formEOBbill

Related terms

Your right to an interpreter in the United States

If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.

You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»

More terms: General care: tests, procedures and medicines

All terms in this area: General care: tests, procedures and medicines — Atención general: pruebas, procedimientos y medicamentos

Sources

This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.