Anesthesia is a drug administered before certain medical procedures, surgeries, and tests. The two most common types of anesthesia include: Anesthesia is considered very safe for most people, says Dr.

All current local anesthetics block sensory signals—pain—but they also interrupt motor signals, which can be problematic. For example, too much epidural anesthesia can prevent mothers in labor from ...

The anesthesia numbed only the area surrounding her ear, and she stayed awake throughout the procedure — which involves a ...