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Chest infection
You are more likely to get a chest infection, and need more care afterwards, if:
- you have a long-term illness or are very poorly before your operation
- it is difficult for you to cough effectively after surgery, for example, if you are having surgery on your abdomen (tummy) or you have limited mobility
- you are a smoker.
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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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Shivering
If you have shivering, your nurses can give you a hot drink, blankets, fluids and sometimes oxygen.
Read more
Beoming confused (delirium)
General anaesthetics can sometimes affect your cognition (understanding, thinking, remembering), your mood, memoryor behaviour.
It is not possible to know who will have these conditions. We do know that it is more likely if you:
- have other health conditions such as heart or kidney disease or diabetes
- are older, frail or having major surgery
- take many different medicines for pain or other conditions.
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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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Feeling sick (nauseous)
Your anaesthetist can give you anti-sickness medicine or fluids. It is better to ask for help as soon as you start to feel sick.
Read more
Sore throat
You can use pain relief such as paracetamol or Ibuprofen. If it is sore for more than a week see your GP or pharmacist.
Seek medical advice immediately if you cough up blood or have difficulty breathing.
Read more
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.
Read more
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
Read more
Bruising or pain from injections
During surgery you can have more than one injection. Sometimes your anaesthetist will give you injections during the operation, so you might not remember them happening. This means that you might have bruises in places that you were not expecting. This type of bruising goes away in a few days but can take longer in some people.
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.
Read more
Minor lip or tongue injury
These injuries are caused by breathing tubes or devices put in your mouth or throat to help you breathe.
Read more
UPDATED Risks in anaesthesia
RCoA
Created on December 24, 2024
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Transcript
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Read more
Chest infection
You are more likely to get a chest infection, and need more care afterwards, if:
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Shivering
If you have shivering, your nurses can give you a hot drink, blankets, fluids and sometimes oxygen.
Read more
Beoming confused (delirium)
General anaesthetics can sometimes affect your cognition (understanding, thinking, remembering), your mood, memoryor behaviour.
It is not possible to know who will have these conditions. We do know that it is more likely if you:
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Feeling sick (nauseous)
Your anaesthetist can give you anti-sickness medicine or fluids. It is better to ask for help as soon as you start to feel sick.
Read more
Sore throat
You can use pain relief such as paracetamol or Ibuprofen. If it is sore for more than a week see your GP or pharmacist. Seek medical advice immediately if you cough up blood or have difficulty breathing.
Read more
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.
Read more
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
Read more
Bruising or pain from injections
During surgery you can have more than one injection. Sometimes your anaesthetist will give you injections during the operation, so you might not remember them happening. This means that you might have bruises in places that you were not expecting. This type of bruising goes away in a few days but can take longer in some people.
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.
Read more
Minor lip or tongue injury
These injuries are caused by breathing tubes or devices put in your mouth or throat to help you breathe.
Read more