As much as your surgeon has trained in their speciality, your anaesthetist has spent many years of medical training to make sure that you are safe during your procedure. They are constantly monitoring during surgery for changes in breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, depth of anaesthesia and unexpected events which although rare, may occur. It is this training and standards set by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists that has made anaesthesia in Australia as safe if not safer than anywhere in the world.
GENERAL ANAESTHESIA
Common Complications
Pain, nausea and vomiting
Sore throat
Shivering
Infrequent Complications
bruising, pain or injury at the site of injections,
temporary nerve damage,
lip and tongue injuries, damage to teeth and dental prostheses, temporary difficulty in speaking
temporary breathing difficulties, asthmatic reactions,
muscle pains,
headaches
possibility of some sensation / awareness during the operation (especially with caesarean section and some emergency procedures)
Very Rare, Serious Complications
heart attack,
lung damage or pneumonia
severe allergic or sensitivity reactions,
damage to the larynx (voice box) and vocal cords,
stroke, seizure, brain damage,
kidney or liver failure,
eye injury,
permanent nerve or blood vessel damage,
paraplegia or quadriplegia,
infection from blood transfusion.
Remember, the possibility of these more serious complications including death is quite remote, but it does exist
REGIONAL ANAESTHESIA
Nerve injury can cause persistent numbness, weakness, or pain
Systemic toxicity if absorbed through the bloodstream (affecting breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure and other body function
Infection
Swelling
Bruising (haematoma) at the injection site
Headache (Infrequent Complication in Spinals and Epidurals)
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