The side effects of anesthetics depend on the type used and various personal factors. Some risk factors associated with complications include age, cigarette smoking, various medical conditions, and the use of certain medications. Luckily, most side effects caused by anesthesia are fairly mild and easy to manage. Yet, Dr. Leandro Gobbo Braz and his colleagues reported in a study published in the October 2009 issue of "Clinics" journal that in developed countries, about 20 out of every 10,000 people who receive anesthetic treatment will die.
Side Effects Following Any Type of Anesthesia
Anesthesia may be local, regional or general. In local anesthesia, only the part of the body that receives treatment is numbed and the patient remains awake during the procedure. Side effects caused by this type of anesthesia occur far less frequently than those caused by other methods. In regional anesthesia, the patient also remains awake but a larger area, such as an entire arm or a leg, are anesthetized. General anesthesia involves a complete loss of consciousness and carries the largest risk of side effects. According to MedlinePlus, some side effects can follow any one of these anesthesia types, including breathing problems and allergic reactions to the medicine used. According to the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society, typical allergic reactions to anesthetics encompass swelling of the mouth, throat or eyes, hives, and a drop in blood pressure.
Side Effects Following Local and Regional Anesthesia
A common side effect of local and regional anesthesia is temporary weakness in the numbed area. The patient may also experience localized paralysis, but this reaction is typically temporary and extremely rare, says the Surgery Encyclopedia. Some patients develop a severe headache, called a spinal headache, after a spinal or epidural block. It is also possible for patients to develop blood clots or infections at the site of administration.
Side Effects Following General Anesthesia
Common side effects after general anesthesia include nausea and vomiting, states Drugs.com. These symptoms can be eased by medication administered before and after anesthesia. A patient who is prone to nausea may also want to postpone eating after general anesthesia to avoid this symptom. Other less frequent side effects include stroke, heart attacks and irregular heartbeat. Some patients also experience mental confusion, more commonly called delirium. This is especially frequent among older adults and patients who have had open heart surgery.
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