What is the difference between General Anesthesia and Twilight Sleep?
As we give more medication, the patient goes through different states of relaxation. The patient can choose to only have nitrous oxide (commonly called laughing gas) for a very relaxed state. However, the patient is still awake and aware of his surroundings. As we give medications, the patient becomes more relaxed where he may think he is sleeping (Twilight Sleep) but actually does not remember being awake. As we give more medication, the patient gently slips into a state of general anesthesia where he is completely asleep and totally unaware of his surroundings.
