What rare complications can occur during Anaesthesia?
It is important to realise that all these incidents are extremely rare and the anaesthetist will make every effort to control them. Certain preoperative factors (e.g. losing weight) can help reduce morbidity.
- Hypoxia (Inadequate oxygen to the tissues)
- Hypertension (an increase in the normal blood pressure)
- Hypotension (a decrease in the normal blood pressure)
- Cardiac Arrhythmias (irregular beatings of the heart)
- Bronchospasm (spasms of the bronchus, more common in smokers and asthmatics)
- Respiratory obstruction (very rare)
- Hypercarbia/Hypocarbia (High and low carbon dioxide in the blood)
- Haemorrhage
- Emboli (can either be caused by gas or a thrombus)
- Malignant hyperthermia (a rapid increase in temperature due to anaesthetic agents)
- Accidental Pneumothorax (lung collapse)
What rare complications can occur when coming round from Anaesthesia?
The very rare complications that can occur are listed below:
- Upper Airway Obstruction
- Post Operative-Hypoxaemia - most patients are given short-term oxygen to avoid this.
- Ventilation/Perfusion Mismatch
- Inadequate Pulmonary Ventilation - can be caused by the painkillers.
- Decreased Ventilatory Drive - can be caused by the painkillers.
- Inadequate Function of Respiratory Muscles
- Hypertension
- Hypotension
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Shivering - common but transient
- Thrombo-embolism - if necessary, anticoagulants will be administered.
- Deep Venous Thrombosis- if necessary, anticoagulants will be administered.