Definition of General anesthesia

General anesthesia: a combination of medications administered by a physician anesthesiologist that put patients in a sleep-like state before surgery. While under general anesthesia, a patient is unconscious and feels no pain. General anesthesia is usually given through a mask or intravenously (IV) by a needle placed in a vein, and an anesthesiologist monitors heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and other vital signs.