Anesthesia carries risks, including allergic reactions and exposure to toxic chemicals, but the benefits often outweigh them. Complications are decreased when administered by a trained anesthesiologist. Risks are increased for those who are very ill, elderly, or have certain conditions. Anesthesia can also pose risks to unborn babies and potentially affect brain development in children and adults. However, the benefits of surgery generally outweigh the risks.
There are many dangers of anesthesia, but the risks are often outweighed by the significant benefits. All forms of anesthesia, even local, can carry the risk of an allergic reaction. Furthermore, anesthesia essentially exposes the body to controlled levels of toxic chemicals to temporarily stop pain or to induce a semi-conscious or unconscious state. Despite the risks, anesthesia, pain relief, or conditions that threaten life or quality of life tend to be worth the risk.
Since most of the people who administer anesthesia are specially trained in anesthesiology, complications related to anesthesia are decreased. In particular, measurements of body chemistry and bodily functions during the administration of anesthesia have become very precise. Therefore, if a problem occurs while administering a drug, it is usually addressed immediately.
Problems are more likely to occur when a person who is not a qualified anesthetist administers anesthesia. In general, it is better to request a specialist and also refuse doctors with dubious reputation. Quite often, people have experienced difficulties when they have tried to have cheap plastic surgeries done. A doctor who performs surgery in a “back room” may not be licensed or experienced in dealing with problems that may occur during anesthesia.
Some facts about the dangers of anesthesia are well known. In general, those who are very ill, extremely young, or elderly have increased risks of anesthesia-related deaths, usually from general anesthesia, which induces unconsciousness. Also, some conditions can increase the risks of anesthesia. Those with heart conditions, brain injuries, or liver dysfunction may be at greater risk during surgery than healthy ones.
The most common risk of anesthesia is an allergic reaction to one of the drugs used. This, too, is usually noticed and addressed right away, as most patients undergoing general anesthesia are monitored constantly. Those who have an allergic reaction to a local anesthetic are likely to react fairly immediately. Dentists and doctors who use local anesthetics have emergency supplies on hand in case of an allergic reaction.
The dangers of anesthesia to unborn babies have also been well established. Women were routinely anesthetized during childbirth, but this is now rare, even during cesarean section. However, women who have to deliver via C-section tend to have an epidural, which blocks sensation from the abdomen down. This minimizes the baby’s exposure to anesthesia.
Studies in 2003 show that drugs used in general anesthesia kill brain cells in developing rats and mice. While these studies require follow-up with human populations, some have theorized that the risks of anesthesia used in children may be greater than previously estimated. You could not only risk death, but also interfere in brain development and possibly long-term memory problems or learning disabilities.
It has also been suggested that one of the possible risks of anesthesia could be damage to the brains of healthy adults. Could anesthesia cause brain damage significant enough to affect memory or accelerate conditions like Alzheimer’s disease? These are questions that have yet to be proven, and there are no statistics that can ultimately assess the risk. Again, the benefits of surgery generally outweigh the possible dangers of anesthesia.
This is especially true with children. Few children have elective surgeries. They are often required to solve serious health problems. Often you risk not only the dangers of anesthesia but also the surgery itself. While surgery of any kind is not without risk, ever, only part of the danger can be attributed to anesthesia.
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