Sweet Oblivion

I am in the operating theatre, and there are four things I remember before drifting into deep sleep: Sleepy pleasure pouring into my veins; ...

I am in the operating theatre, and there are four things I remember before drifting into deep sleep: Sleepy pleasure pouring into my veins; blindingly bright overhead lights; a cold feeling between my toes; and my anaesthesiologist8217;s warm, dark eyes washing over me.

After a three-hour surgery, I wake up refreshed and, again, those empathetic eyes communicate with me. This happened last year when anaesthesiologist Dr IJ Dagli took me to the brink of existence and brought me back, surely and safely.

Dagli uses allopathy to relieve pain, but he also believes in the power of the body to heal itself. After studying anaesthesia for five and a half years in the US in the 1960s, he introduced epidural anaesthesia in India. Before my surgery, Dagli gifted me a book8212;You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay8212;and shared motivational literature with other patients too. I was intrigued by his beliefs.

But first, anaesthesia. It is critical that anaesthesia be administered and monitored meticulously. Not doing so can lead to problems ranging from an allergic reaction to generalised complications.

The three components of anaesthesia are analgesia pain relief, amnesia loss of memory and immobilisation. The drugs used usually have varying effects in each of these areas.

Anaesthesia is given intravenously and then gases are given to keep the patient anaesthetised.

		YOU ASK, THEY ANSWER

			Q Navrtej Sandhu, 20, has irregular periods. Earlier, she thought the reason for her irregular periods was kidney stones. She got operated for kidney stones on December 17, 2003. Her last cycle was on December 11, 2003, and so far she has not got her periods. Do allopathic medicines create imbalance in hormone levels? Kindly advise. A Navrtej8217;s delayed periods are caused by poor health, anaemia or hormone imbalance or abnormal levels of prolactin or male hormones. It has no connection with kidney stones. I suggest she see a gynaecologist to determine the cause of the delayed period. Drugs given under medical supervision are safe. Dr Rustom Phiroze Soonawala, FRCS, FRCOG, and consultant at Breach Candy and Jaslok hospitals, Mumbai 8212;8212;8212;8212;8212;8212;8212;8212;8212;8212;8212;- Q Bijay8217;s belly is big, which makes it difficult for him to work in his seat. A If Bijay doesn8217;t have a heart problem, then he should lose some weight by regular brisk walking and abdominal exercises. Also avoid cheese, butter, potatoes and beer. Dr Khusrav Bajan, consultant at PD Hinduja National Hospital, Mumbai

During the Middle Ages, mandragora or mandrake was the most popular anaesthetic. The word 8216;anaesthesia8217; was introduced by Oliver Wendell Holmes in 1846, four weeks after the first demonstration of ether anaesthesia at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

However a dentist, William Morton, demonstrated that ether could render a patient unconscious and free from surgical pain. Since then, there have been several advances:

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8226; Local anaesthesia: Used with procedures such as cataract surgery, pacemaker placement, inguinal hernia repair etc.

8226; Regional anaesthesia: Spinal or epidural anaesthetic technique or blockade of major nerves, which is used for surgery of the lower abdomen, pelvis or legs.

Dagli specialises in epidurals at the time of delivery and childbirth. 8220;This is perfectly safe for the mother and the baby and, in fact, makes the delivery a pleasurable experience,8221; he says.

8220;But,8221; he adds, 8220;It can be addictive because the mother will want it the next time she delivers, too.8221;

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Anaesthesia is also used for pain management after hip, abdominal or thoracic surgery, when a continuous epidural infusion is selected.

8220;I have watched the human body and mind very closely in the hospital, and I have been witness to the great power of healing that they have,8221; the 66-year-old doctor says.

I have yet to meet another doctor who injects hope and anaesthesia simultaneously. Dagli can be reached at daglivsnl.com