FOUR STAGES OF ANESTHESIA

STAGE DURATION PHYSICAL REACTIONS NURSING INTERVENTIONS

• Close operating room

Anesthetic Drowsiness/ Dizziness doors
Onset administration to loss of Auditory and visual • Keep room quiet
consciousness hallucinations • Standby to assist client

Increase in autonomic • Remain quiet at

Loss of consciousness to activity, Irregular client’s side
Excitement loss of eyelid reflexes breathing, client may • Assist anaesthetist if
struggle necessary

• Begin preparation only

Loss of eyelid reflexes Unconsciousness, when anaesthetist
Surgical to loss of most reflexes relaxation of muscles, indicates stage 3 has
Anesthesia and depression of vital diminished gag and been reached and
function blink reflexes client is breathing well
with stable vital signs.

• If arrest occurs; assist

immediately in
Depression of vital Client is not establishing airway,
Danger function to respiratory breathing, heartbeat provide cardiac arrest
and circulatory failure may or may not be tray, drugs, syringes,
present long needles, assist
surgeon with closed or
open cardiac massage.

Source: Medical Surgical Nursing 7th edition by Joyce M. Black

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