What are the Dangers of Anesthesia?

@anon73617: Especially for those prospective patients over 50, you and only you will have to live with the long term consequences of your anesthesiologist's short term care.

Those consequences include delirium (aka 'brain fog'), dementia, and one death every day. Li G, et al: Epidemiology of Anesthesia-related Mortality in the United States, 1999–2005. Anesthesiology 2009;110:759

Are two procedures in a month bad with anesthesia?

The dangers of anesthesia operations and procedures usually depend on the type of surgery and condition of the patient.

Some minor proceedings should be done without anesthesia, as the negative side effects of it can overrule the negative effects of face pain without it. Both anesthesia and face pain also have positive effects (like more tranquil proceedings with anesthesia; and resilience and overpower sensation in some circumstances to face it without), for example, circumcision, tattoos, etc., especially if it is somehow ritualized. They should be done with the care of be a health trained professional doing it to avoid infections and other hazardous situations.

People, no website is a substitute for a medical professional. If you have questions about your condition, see a doctor.

My friend's 8 year old daughter had ear surgery and ended up going into cardiac arrest! Is this from the anesthesia, from having too much, or an allergic reaction with having NPO?

I think one of the most common side effects (not danger, really) of general anesthesia, is nausea. Both times I've been under, I got sick afterward. The first time was when I had my wisdom teeth out, and the oral surgeon said it was probably because I'd swallowed blood. Made sense to me at the time.

The last time I was under, I had thyroid surgery and I told my anesthesiologist that I'd gotten sick before, and she really absolutely did do everything she could to help alleviate it. She gave me an anti-heartburn med in my IV and when I was in recovery, also gave me Zofran in recovery when I said I was sick. I don't remember feeling sick right then, although I do remember feeling way too hot, which usually increases any nausea I might have.

Anyway, it was outpatient surgery, and when I got back to my room to wake up more and get dressed, I got sick. There wasn't anything to expel, since I'd been NPO for about 18 hours, but I guess my body just felt like it had to protest. But once I went through the motions, I did feel much better.

I do get severe motion sickness, though, and my anesthesiologist did say those who are prone to motion sickness are more likely to be sick after having anesthesia.

So if you get motion sickness, make sure you tell your anesthesiologist so he or she can be prepared to help you in every way.

@anon73617: Sorry dude. Neither I nor my non-profit Goldilocks Anesthesia Foundation receive financial support from brain monitor (or drug) makers.

However, in case you missed this recent, important article in the April 11, 2011 issue of “Current Opinion in Anesthesiology.”

They conclude: “Given the trivial cost of the BIS (brain monitor) and the proven benefits demonstrated in prospective randomized studies, we consider its use justified in every general anesthetic.”

Under no circumstances should you allow your anesthesia provider to play Russian roulette with your brain. Only you, the patient, have to live with the long term consequences of your short term anesthesia care.

I want to say to all of you who have had surgery of late: speedy recovery to you all! I am interested to know why a person with a brain injury "is at risk" if undergoing a general anesthesia for surgery. What risk are we talking about exactly? This statement about who is at risk is in the article above the comments. I have noticed with friends and family, especially my mother, who was in surgery for three hours, that she appears to have developed dementia. Her memory is impaired severely since her recovery. Unfortunately, she had to have the surgery, so it it appears to be a catch-22 situation. --b.j.

My three year old has a bump (doctors think it is a cyst) on his face. They would like to remove it but want general anesthesia instead of local. He turned three just two months ago! Developing brain? Any suggestions or other options?

I have an allergic reaction to anesthetics. I am not sure that surgery is even an option for me. I have a ruptured disk in my lower back. This would kill me, right?

Our child has developmental problems. At the age of 2.8 he does not speak and shows signs of autistic spectrum (lack of attention, social skills, etc.). He was born without any notable problems via cesarean, which was planned due to his mother's severe myopia.

We started addressing his problems in January (six months ago). In March, the doctors at one clinic checked his hearing under anesthesia. Results turned out to be uninterpretable. He can definitely can hear, but the results showed a possibility of not hearing below 30Db.

Now they sent us to another, bigger clinic where they will redo the procedure in two weeks. We are worried about the frequency of putting the child under anesthesia.

We need some advice. Should we cancel it or go ahead without having to worry about possible damage that the anesthesia can do to the boy.

Please help. Thank you. We live in Nantes, a small city in northwestern France.

I am a 20-year-old male who had a maxillofacial surgery about two months ago. After the operation my balance was noticeably disoriented but slightly improving -- still doesn't feel as before.

Also since the operation, quick movements cause extreme dizziness (e.g. many stars appear if I turn or stand up quickly) though this also has greatly improved, it too is still apparent. But the most troublesome effect is my bladder. For the past two months I have had an increased need to urinate and even leakage of urine. This has not improved.

I can't help but connect these symptoms to the brain injury I experienced (a little less than) three years ago. In that case I was in a coma for two weeks after a car accident where my head was hit on the left side causing the brain to be shaken.

I was diagnosed with a diffused axonal injury (DAI) for which an extreme loss of balance and logic also occurred but was redeveloped with training.

What should I do? Thank you for any guidance.

Sounds suspiciously like anon49217 works for the company making this "brain monitor." He is referring to a BIS monitor and for most routine surgeries it is completely not necessary.

The most recent medical literature does not support its routine use in surgery. It is typically used in trauma and cardiac cases and in obstetric cases in which general anesthesia must be used.

Definitely ask your anesthesiologist, but don't be scared off if he or she tells you it will not be used.

okay i just got back from the dentist and they said i need all four wisdom teeth pulled. i'm not scared about that, but the gas. i was reading about how it affects children. i am 13. am i considered a "child"?

Questions you must ask your surgeon before surgery: Did you know anesthesia over-medication is routine without a brain monitor? A: Yes Did you know anesthesia over-medication can be avoided with a brain monitor? A: Yes Will I have a brain monitor for my surgery? A: Yes. If not, go where it is routine. Did you know propofol is an anti-oxidant? A: Yes. Will lidocaine be injected before my incision?A: Yes. Will morphine be left in my incision at the end of surgery? A: Yes How soon after surgery will I wake up? A: Within minutes. How frequent is PONV** in your practice? A: Rarely What about post op shaking? A: Rarely Brain monitor + Propofol ketamine anesthesia = ‘Goldilocks’ anesthesia ** PONV = Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting ‘Goldilocks' Anesthesia = not too much, not too little, always just the right amount

have there been any studies to substantiate the relationship of anesthesia to accelerating dementia and alzhemiers? your statement below seems to support my mothers condition after hip surgery. It has also been suggested that one of the possible dangers of anesthesia might be risky to the brain of healthy adults. Could anesthesia cause brain damage significant enough to affect memory, or to hasten conditions like Alzheimer’s disease?

i think i might have to have a general anesthesia and i am afraid i will not wake up.

I am a 18 year old girl who just got anesthesia so a doctor could scope my bladder. As the day goes on I tend to feel worse and worse. I have extreme pain in my kidneys and neck. I am very confused and dizzy; my stomach is very upset. I had my gallbladder removed seven months ago and didn't have this reaction. Should I call my doctor or what could be causing this?

How long should a patient wait to go under anesthesia after being treated twice, for bypass, surgery, and catheterization within 3 months, and what are the risks of repeated treatments?

Can we get inflammatory reaction to anesthesia after knee arthroscopy?

Schurch - I think it varies on the procedure, the person, and how much anesthesia was administered. But, generally anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour. Some people can take longer.

how long after surgrey does it take someone with liver damage to wake up?