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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffMost healthy people don't have any problems with general anesthesia. However, as with most medical procedures, there is a small risk of long-term complications and, rarely, death. Specific complications are related to the type of procedure and your general physical health.
Additionally, the following factors can increase your risk of complications:
- Medical conditions involving your heart, lungs or kidneys
- Medications, such as aspirin, that can increase bleeding
- Smoking, which increases the likelihood of breathing problems
- Alcohol use, which may predispose you to liver damage
- Family history of adverse reactions to anesthesia
- Food or drug allergies
- Sleep apnea
- Obesity
The following complications are rare and occur more frequently in older adults or in people who have medical problems:
- Temporary mental confusion
- Lung infections
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Death
Anesthesia awareness
Estimates vary, but about 1 or 2 people in every 1,000 may wake up briefly while under general anesthesia. In most cases, the person is simply aware of his or her surroundings and doesn't feel any pain. However, some people experience excruciating pain and develop long-term psychological problems.
The following factors appear to make this phenomenon — also called unintended intraoperative awareness — more likely:
- Emergency surgery
- Long-term use of anticonvulsants, opiates, tranquilizers or cocaine
- Heart or lung problems
- Daily alcohol use
- White PF, et al. General anesthetics. In: Katzung BG, et al. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology. 11th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=4512662. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Life support and anesthesia. In: Klingensmith ME, et al. Washington Manual of Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008. http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/sp-2.3.1b/ovidweb.cgi. Accessed April 26, 2010.
- Who is an anesthesiologist? Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/who_is_anesthesiologist.aspx. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Anesthesia topics. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/medical_specialties.aspx. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Postanesthesia care. In: Morgan EG, et al. Clinical Anesthesiology. 4th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=895730&searchStr=anesthesia%2c+general#895730. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Dorian RS. Anesthesia of the surgical patient. In: Brunicardi CF, et al. Schwartz's Principles of Surgery. 9th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2006. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=50. Accessed April 25, 2010.
- Frequently asked questions. Lifeline to Modern Medicine. http://www.lifelinetomodernmedicine.com/faqs.aspx. Accessed April 25, 2010.
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