Risks in anaesthesia - 10,000 people

How many? Out of every 10,000 people (ten thousand people)

What happened?

For how long?

5 did

9,995 did not

Damage to teeth

Needs to be seen by a dentist

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Blurred vision, eye irritation or pain due to a small scratch or dry eyes.

A few days

About 5 did

About 9,995 did not

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1–5 did

9,995–9,999 did not

Tingling, numbness, pain or weakness (nerve damage)

Temporary (weeks to months)

Permanent

1 did

9,999 did not

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Cardiac arrest, eg heart stopping during surgery

Treated immediately

1–2 did

9,998–9,999 did not

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Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)

Happens quickly Treated immediately

1 did

9,999 did not

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Anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction)

Your anaesthetist will give you medicine and oxygen which start to work immediately. It is more likely if you have other allergies. Feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, constipation, sore throat, shivering, headache are not allergic reactions.

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Blurred vision, eye irritation or pain

Eyes can become dry during surgery making scratches more likely. Sometimes something can accidentally touch them. It usually gets better in a few days. You can have eye drops and pain relief.

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Cardiac arrest, eg heart stopping during surgery

It is treated immediately by your doctors. The risk is higher for some patients and certain types of surgery. For instance, if the patient is elderly and frail, or if the patient is considered ‘high risk’ due to other medical conditions. Patients who require surgery on the heart and major blood vessels are also at higher risk.

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Temporary or permanent tingling, numbness, pain or weakness (nerve damage)

Happens to a small area or sometimes all of your arm or leg. Can be temporary (weeks or month) or sometimes permanent.

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Minor lip or tongue injury

From tubes or devices put in your mouth or throat to help you breathe.

More information is available here.

Damage to teeth

It may require repair by a dentist. If it happens to you, talk to your anaesthetist. They will explain about any help available to you. Tubes that help you breathe during the operation can damage your teeth. It is more likely if you have loose teeth, crowns, veneers or implants.

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