General anaesthesia
General anaesthesia not only eliminates pain but also renders the patient unconscious and slows down respirations; patients therefore need respiratory support. More often than not, general anaesthesia is started with strong sleeping aids applied through an access to the veins; it is then maintained either by continuous application of sleeping aids and analgesics through the vein access (TIVA) or by application of narcotic vapour (inhalation narcosis). Respiratory tracks are normally secured by a respiratory tube (tube or larynx mask); if surgery is very brief, respiration may be applied through a face mask. To provide post-surgery analgesic therapy, general anaesthesia may be combined with a method of regional anaesthesia or an analgesic catheter (combined anaesthesia).