Risks in anaesthesia - 100,000 people

How many? Out of every 100,000 people (one hundred thousand people)

What happened?

Woke up for a short time during general anaesthetic (accidental awareness)

5 were

99,995 were not

3–4 in every 100,000 said that it lasted less than five minutes, before surgery or after it had finished. About 1 in every 100,000 said that they felt some pain.

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Lost their sight (went blind) due to pressure or blood clots affecting the optic nerve

1 did

99,999 did not

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14 did

99,986 did not

Died from complications of surgery Died due to cardiac arrest during or just after surgery Died due to the anaesthetic

1 did

99,999 did not

1 did

99,999 did not

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Lost their sight (went blind)

Low blood pressure, blood clots or pressure on the optic nerve can lead to blindness. Most likely in spine, neck or open heart surgery.

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Died from complications of surgeryDied from cardiac arrest during or immediately after surgeryDied due to the anaesthetic

The risk of dying varies greatly. It is more likely for certain operations, or people who were frail, older or had certain health conditions.

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Woke up for a short time during general anaesthetic (accidental awareness)

When you have a general anaesthetic, you are unconscious. Accidental awareness happens when you become aware (conscious) for a short time during a general anaesthetic. Accidental awareness is rare but can be very frightening. You should report this to the anaesthetist if it happens to you

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