Does Surgical Anesthesia Have Any Harmful Effects?

For some people, the most frightening aspect of an operation is anesthesia. There are three different types of anesthesia, only under general anesthesia the patient is unconsicous. General anesthesia is the first type of anesthesia that comes to mind when anesthesia is mentioned. This anesthesia puts the patient to sleep during the surgery. It is generally preferred for extensive surgeries. It is also a preferred type of anesthesia in long, complex and sensitive cases.

Local anesthesia is used for numbing a specific part of the body to prevent pain during surgery or other procedures. For example, during dental operations, dentists numbs a portion of the mouth with injections.

Regional anesthesia, is used to numb a large area like a whole arm or leg, preventing pain in a larger part of the body or for example completely below the waist. An example of common use is an epidural that prevents pain during childbirth.

Although anesthesia is generally very safe, it may cause side effects during and after an operation. Most side effects of anesthesia are mild and temporary, but there may be more serious side effects that may need to be known and, if necessary, prepared for beforehand.

Nausea, vomiting, sore throat and dry mouth, chills, shivering, drowsiness, muscle pain after general anesthesia can be common but are quite temporary. These side effects are easily managed by various medications and applications, and the patient quickly pass this stage as they start consuming food and liquids. While most effects of general anesthesia wears off quickly, you may feel groggy, have confusion and impairment in judgement immediately after a surgery.

Some individual conditions of the patient may increase the risk of complications. Obstructive sleep apnea, having seizures, present heart, kidney, lung problems, high blood pressure, alcoholism, smoking, allergies to substances used in anesthesia, diabetes, a history of reactions to anesthesia, being overweight can be expressed as risk factors. One of the most important things that a patient should remember is that they should seek the necessary attention without waiting if they think they are experiencing they may possibly be experiencing serious complications after surgery. If you think you are experiencing serious or potentially life-threatening complications, you should visit emergency service without delay.

One of the most important things that can be done to prevent the side effects of anesthesia is to have an anesthesiologist present during the operation. An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor specializing in anesthesia, pain management and critical care. Before the operation, the patient’s medical history, health habits and lifestyle should be discussed with the anesthesiologist. This information helps the physician to know how the patient can react to anesthesia and to reduce the risk of side effects.

A person who intends to undergo plastic surgery should discuss their medical history in detail with their doctor during consultation and inform the doctor about any existing health problems. Before the operation, additional tests may be requested from some patients, and clearance and approval may be needed from specialist doctors in different fields.