Final answer:
Inhaled anesthetics affect cardiac and respiratory function during general anesthesia. Muscles necessary for breathing may not move properly, and the tongue can block the airway. To maintain an open airway, a procedure called endotracheal intubation is used, and the mixture of gases is gradually changed after surgery.
Step-by-step explanation:
During general anesthesia, inhaled anesthetics affect cardiac and respiratory function. The muscles necessary for breathing, such as those in the diaphragm and chest wall, may not move properly under anesthesia. Additionally, the tongue can relax and block the airway partially or fully, leading to potential complications. To maintain an open airway, doctors use a procedure called endotracheal intubation, where a tube is placed into the trachea. The mixture of gases that keep the patient unconscious is gradually changed after surgery, and when the respiratory muscles start functioning, the tube is removed.