It is not uncommon to have a surgical procedure done. The medical field has expanded and introduced new technologies to make surgeries quicker, more precise and easier on the patient. Anesthesia is also a part of surgery that requires professional intervention. Many health conditions factor into the amount of anesthesia a patient is given. Obesity and drug use also compromise the administration of anesthesia and put patients at risk for dangerous or adverse effects.
Serious Effects
Serious effects and complications from general anesthesia rarely occur in most healthy patients. However, complications do occur because anesthesia is a mixture of medications that may be inhaled or injected into veins. For this reason, a person may suffer a reaction from any one of the medicines used in anesthesia. Anesthesia affects the whole body as well as the brain, heart, and lungs.
Complications include irregular heartbeat, increases or decreases in blood pressure, increase in body temperature, difficulty breathing, heart attack or stroke or death from complications of changes in heartbeat, blood pressure, body temperature or breathing.
Drug Use with Anesthesia
Prescription and recreational drug use can present problems with anesthesia. Patients may be asked to try to stop smoking, drinking or using drugs weeks before their surgery date. Patients who smoke have increased hyperactivity in their airways and are at a higher risk for heart complications around or during the time of surgery. Coughing with sputum, wheezing, shortness of breath or coughing or spitting up blood may indicate pulmonary problems that should be examined before the patient undergoes anesthesia.
Alcohol intoxication lowers the amount of anesthesia needed. If the patient has stopped drinking before the surgery date, alcohol withdrawal may result in high blood pressure, delirium, tremors and seizures. A patient who has a regimen of benzodiazepine or narcotic use may increase the amount of anesthesia that is needed. An increase of analgesics may be required to provide pain management. Use of stimulants can put the patient at risk for palpitations, angina, disorders in heart rate and seizures.
Being Awake
Being awake or awaking during anesthesia is a fear for some patients. According to the Anesthesia Risk website, the risk of this frightening experience occurring is from 0.1 percent to 0.2 percent. Profound psychological and behavioral changes during or after the use of anesthesia may occur in some patients. Patients at a higher risk for this rare occurrence are those who have a history of substance abuse, a long-term history of chronic pain, difficulty with breathing tube placement and having a history of awareness during surgery. The type of surgery may also put a patient at risk, including emergency or trauma surgery, cesarean surgery (C-section) using general anesthesia and cardiac surgery. More hospitals are trying to use brain function monitors for high-risk patients and high-risk surgeries.
Obesity
Obesity, which is defined as being 100 or more pounds overweight, can be a problem with anesthesia. Anesthesia can pose a complication to every organ system in an obese person.The heart is compromised by obesity and more susceptible to hypertension, increased blood volume and coronary artery disease. Gastroesophageal reflux and aspiration are common in obese patients. Surgery is more complicated and blood loss may be increased. Anesthesia must be used with caution because of these pre-existing problems in obese patients.
Conclusion
Anesthesia is generally safe. If you meet some of the criteria for experiencing a health risk because of anesthesia, you can diet to offset the effects of obesity and abstain from drug use to avoid medication reactions with anesthesia and other drugs. The healthier you are at the time of surgery, the less the anesthesia will pose as a risk. If you have any concerns, you may talk to your doctor or hospital staff. They will provide you with support and guide you before and after the surgery.
