Regarding levels of sedation, which one applies to a total loss of perception and sensation to painful stimuli?

The correct choice is general anesthesia, as it is defined by a total loss of consciousness, perception, and sensation in response to painful stimuli. During general anesthesia, patients are completely unaware of their surroundings and do not react to stimuli, allowing for painless surgical procedures.

Anxiolysis is a state of reduced anxiety that does not typically produce significant sedation or loss of sensation. Moderate sedation permits patients to maintain consciousness while being relaxed and to respond appropriately to verbal commands or light stimulation. Deep sedation results in a more significant decrease in consciousness, but patients may still respond to painful stimuli, making them less than completely insensate. Only through general anesthesia do all sensory perceptions, including those related to pain, become completely absent. Thus, general anesthesia is distinct in its ability to provide a comprehensive and profound state of sedation necessary for specific medical procedures.