There are many types of of anesthesia, such as general anesthesia, intravenous sedation, regional anesthesia (nerve blocks), injected local anesthesia, topical anesthetics, and even the administration of oral sedatives. In some cases, a combination of two or more of these techniques may be determined to be right for a given procedure. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your procedure, anesthesia may be administered by your surgeon, by a nurse anesthetist, or by an anesthesiologist.
- nausea and vomiting
- headache
- confusion or memory loss
- infection
- muscle pains
- bladder problems
- awareness during surgery
- airway collapse
- nervous system deficit or nerve damage
- pulmonary embolism
- shock
- respiratory failure
- drug or allergic reactions
- cardiac arrest
- coma
- death
Death rates from anesthesia have decreased significantly in recent years, and the incidence now stands at about 1 in 250,000. This rate is even lower in elective procedures like cosmetic surgery, since surgeons will generally decline to operate on a patient who is in a significantly high risk category. While the "heavier" forms of anesthesia (i.e., general as opposed to local) generally carry more risk, even the "lightest" forms of anesthesia can in some cases have the most serious consequences.
Patient health status and history, duration of anesthesia, quality of the surgical facility and equipment, and the skill and experience of the person administering and monitoring anesthesia all have a direct bearing on controlling risk. Anesthesia risks are also increased in smokers or in patients who are taking certain herbal supplements.
When you do your homework by researching your surgeon, don't forget to find out who will be administering and monitoring your surgical anesthesia. Find out about their credentials, training, and safety record. It could be the most important research you do to protect your safety when undergoing any surgical procedure.
Sources:
Anesthesia: A Look at Local, Regional and General Anesthesia; Consumer Information Sheet; Mayo Clinic; http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anesthesia/SC00026
Duration of Anesthesia as an Indicator of Morbidity and Mortality in Office-Based Facial Plastic Surgery: A Review of 1200 Consecutive Cases; Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2006;8:47-53; Neil A. Gordon, MD; Marc E. Koch, MD
Interview with Adam Tattelbaum, MD – conducted on 12-17-07
