Complications From Surgery Anesthetic in Recovery

Surgery usually is performed with patients under some level of anesthesia. While anesthetic medication is designed to numb the area affected, or put the patient to sleep for their benefit, sometimes side effects surface. Recovering from surgery can be difficult because of anesthetic complications, but they can be remedied.

Function

• Three main types of anesthesia are used in various medical procedures: local, regional and general. Each type of anesthesia is used for a different purpose, and one may be used in conjunction with another. Various risks accompany each of them. In general, anesthesia is relatively safe for most people, and the frequency of complications is minimal, but if you are about to undergo surgery, you should be aware of possible risks.

Local Anesthesia

• Local anesthesia is used for numbing very small areas during simple medical procedures or for pain management. A small needle is inserted into the affected site, and a numbing medication is injected that may need to be administered again if the procedure takes an exceptionally long time.

  Risks with local anesthesia are minimal, and typically include rashes or skin reactions at the injection site. More seriously, though much less common, you may experience sores, blood clots or abscesses at the injection sites that will typically be treated by antibiotics.

Regional Anesthesia

• Regional anesthesia is used to block a nerve supply from traveling to the rest of the affected body part. These include epidurals, and nerve blocks in areas such as arms and legs. The needle is injected directly into the nerve site, and the rest of the area will be deadened for a period of time during a medical procedure. Regional anesthesia can be used in conjunction with general anesthesia or by itself if the patient is not being put to sleep.

  The main risks associated with regional anesthesia are paralysis and weakness, though in most cases this wears off following the surgery. If the anesthesia is injected incorrectly into a vein, convulsions and cardiac arrest become a risk. These reactions are very rare.

General Anesthesia

• General anesthesia is designed to put you to sleep so that you do not feel any pain or remember anything that happened during the surgery. It is administered via intravenous through the arm or through a mask containing the anesthetic, the strength of which varies depending on the time frame of the surgery.

  Some risks include waking up during surgery, though that is very rare, and the person typically is only aware of her surroundings and does not bring forth the memory of any pain. Some general confusion upon awakening can be common, as the brain cannot comprehend the time it was under the anesthesia. Lung infections, stroke and heart attack can occur, especially if you are under anesthesia for long periods of time. Death is a risk, as with any medical procedure, though it is very uncommon from general anesthesia.

Complication Recovery

• While side effects of anesthesia are rare, doctors are trained to deal with complications should they arise. For small, local reactions, often a topical cream with prescription antibiotics is given. Larger reactions such as deadening and numbness can be treated with movement, changes in heat and physical therapy. For severe reactions that involve cardiac trauma, antagonist drugs can be administered; advanced life-saving techniques also can be used for resuscitation.