Therapeutic anesthesia: past, present and future
The article focuses on historical aspects and perspectives of therapeutic anesthesia in critically ill patients. The authors analyze the main milestones in development of this therapeutic concept, anti-stress effects and mechanisms of sanogenesis following therapeutic anesthesia. Positive therapeutic effects of α2-adrenoagonists and sevoflurane and their combination for prevention of abnormal patterns of CNS functioning are described in detail. Finally, the authors conclude that therapeutic anesthesia is a pharmacological protection when sedation, analgesia, relief of seizures, reduction of intracranial hypertension and sympathetic activity are provided simultaneously through the action of anesthetics.