Thanks to both the medical developments and the advances in modern medical technology, the science of surgery and anesthesia has reached a much safer point compared to the past. However, these developments do not mean that anesthesia procedures are risk-free. All anesthesia procedures have minor or major side effects and complications with the effect of many parameters.
What are the Complications of General Anesthesia?
Some co-morbidities in the patient also reduce the complications related to anesthesia and surgery and the risks of surgery. can increase. Some heart diseases such as hypertension, heart failure, heart valve diseases, stroke, some neurologic disorders, obesity, some lung diseases such as sleep apnea, asthma, COPD, kidney problems, and the patient's current allergy history are some of the problems that increase the risks. In addition, smoking, alcohol and substance abuse may affect the risks and the possibility of complications.
A detailed evaluation is made by the anesthesiologist to reveal the risks of the patient and to determine the appropriate anesthesia conditions before any surgical operation or procedure. During this evaluation, the patient's medical picture, such as the patient's age, gender, existing diseases, physical functions, and habits, is revealed. How to approach the patient in terms of anesthesia is decided according to the surgical procedure to be performed with all these parameters.
What are the Side Effects of General Anesthesia?
Most of the side effects of general anesthesia are not life-threatening and are easily can be treated. The most common side effects associated with general anesthesia are nausea and vomiting. Some medications are used during the surgery to prevent this situation, which occurs due to many triggering factors such as the type of surgery and the medications used. It is among the side effects observed during and after general anesthesia.
Respiratory system is one of the most frequently affected systems because the drugs used during general anesthesia suppress the respiratory system. Therefore, respiratory praxis during and after anesthesia blemishes may also occur. Patients are observed in the recovery room, called the recovery room, for a while after anesthesia, both to treat the undesirable effects of anesthesia and to intervene in time for possible respiratory distress.
What Are the Rare Side Effects of General Anesthesia?
Although rare, serious complications such as myocardial infarction, respiratory failure and renal failure may occur during general anesthesia applications. However, these conditions usually occur in risky patients with co-morbidities. It is rarely observed in healthy patients.
Sometimes, at the beginning of anesthesia, during anesthesia or immediately after anesthesia, due to the disappearance of the patient's protective reflexes such as swallowing and coughing, the stomach contents may escape into the trachea and as a result, the lungs may be damaged. In order to prevent this situation, which is defined as aspiration, it is very important that all patients who will receive general anesthesia comply with the prohibition of not eating or drinking anything for a certain period of time before the operation.
What are the Risks in Regional and Local Anesthesia?
Anesthetizing only one part of the body according to the area covered by the surgical procedure to be applied is called regional anesthesia. Spinal and Epidural anesthesia are the two most commonly used regional anesthesia methods. Other peripheral nerve blocks can also be applied depending on the location of the surgery. In local anesthesia, only the skin area where the intervention will be performed is anesthetized.
Although rare, some side effects can be observed in these applications. Systemic and toxic effects due to high doses of drugs, prolonged loss of strength, headache, temporary difficulty in urination, vascular injuries, etc.
Can the Side Effects of Anesthesia be Prevented with Precautions?
In the light of all this information, the point that patients should know is that all the side effects we mentioned can be prevented by taking precautions in anesthesia procedures performed by advanced centers and specialists. Risks can be minimized by pre-evaluating possible risks both before and during anesthesia.
For this, it is dependent on anesthesia by evaluating the patient in detail before anesthesia and determining the correct anesthesia method by arranging the necessary treatments accordingly. It is possible to minimize the possibility of possible side effects.
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