general anesthesia + opioid analgesia

General anesthesia + opioid analgesia refers to the combined use of general anesthetic agents and opioid analgesics during surgical procedures. General anesthetics induce a reversible state of unconsciousness, amnesia, and immobility, typically through intravenous or inhalational agents such as propofol, sevoflurane, desflurane, or isoflurane. Opioid analgesics (such as fentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone) are administered concurrently to provide potent pain relief by binding to opioid receptors in the central nervous system. This combination is foundational in balanced or multimodal anesthesia practice—using multiple drugs at lower doses to maximize efficacy while minimizing side effects. The mechanism of action involves general anesthetics depressing central nervous system activity (primarily via GABAergic pathways), while opioids activate mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors to inhibit nociceptive transmission and alter pain perception[2][3][4].

Other names

balanced general anesthesiamultimodal general anesthesia