Side effects
Anaesthetic products can cause side effects in some people. Your anaesthetist will tell you what side effects may occur after a specific type of anaesthetic. He will also tell you what is done to counteract those side effects.
Some common side effects after general anaesthesia and some types of regional anaesthesia are:
- nausea or vomiting
- dizziness and feeling of faintness
- feeling of cold or chills
- headache
- itching
- difficulty in urinating
- vague aches and pains
The side effects of anaesthesia are usually short-lived. Some side effects may need to be treated.
Possible complications
In recent years, anaesthesia has become very safe, thanks to developments in equipment, medication and training. As is the case with any type of surgical or medical treatment, there is also a potential risk of complications with anaesthesia.
Very rare but possible complications are:
- permanent nerve damage: this can lead to numbness or paralysis (inability to move a body part), although it can also be caused by the surgery itself. Damage to peripheral nerves - which run between the spinal cord and the rest of the body - occurs in less than 1 in 1,000 anaesthetics.
- an allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to medication used in anaesthesia. This reaction can be severe, but appropriate treatment is immediately available. Exactly how often anaesthetics trigger anaphylaxis is not known. The best estimate is that a life-threatening allergic reaction occurs during 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 20,000 anaesthetics.
- death: according to figures from the UK, there are about 10 deaths per million anaesthetics.
Whether you are at risk of complications depends on factors such as:
- your medical history: any serious medical conditions or illnesses.
- personal factors such as smoking or obesity: quitting smoking or losing weight a few weeks before surgery will reduce the risk.
- the type of procedure: is it a planned or emergency procedure, major or minor?
- the type of anaesthesia: local anaesthesia can sometimes be safer than general anaesthesia.