by M. L. Kiser

Created on: June 02, 2011   Last Updated: August 04, 2011

Surgeries are done every single day throughout the world.  No one even thinks twice about having an appendix or gall bladder removed anymore.  People worldwide have dental work done and are anesthetized, cataracts are removed, even when cosmetic surgery is done, most people consider that their surgeon is competent and familiar with the procedure or surgery, but rarely does anyone ever ask about the credentials or the anesthetist or whether or not the anesthesia has dangerous side effects.  It’s simply taken for granted that many surgeries are successful, but anesthetic can pose some serious threats to your health and it can even kill you. 

General anesthesia is a state of unconsciousness where you lack memory of your surgery; you cannot move during surgeries, should not experience pain or discomfort, although many people have.  Dangerous changes to the heart rate and blood pressure can occur and while combinations of anesthesia-inducing medications or gasses are used to provide comfort and safety, you really are not really, all that safe.  “All types of anesthesia, including general anesthesia, are a risk”, according to the East Tennessee Ambulatory Surgery Center (ETASC).  “Risks are greater for those people with serious medical conditions.” 

These gasses and chemicals will usually be administered intravenously, through intubation, inhaled or breathed, sometimes, intramuscular injections are used, to relax you and help you to sleep so that you do not feel pain or view the procedure.  You will most likely not recall what is going on unless it is a type of surgery requiring you need to be awake.  The anesthesia medicine may be accompanied by other medication.  Sometimes pain relievers or narcotics accompany the anesthesia, to help keep your heart rate and blood pressure under control. 

Your anesthesiologist should inquire as to whether you have any underlying medical conditions such as, heart disease, stroke or a family history of them.   High blood pressure, allergies, immune system diseases, emphysema, lung disease or neurological diseases like epileptic seizures.  Tell them whether you have any eating disorders or a history of smoking, asthma, endocrine or thyroid disorders or not.  If you suffer from arthritis or other diseases that can affect movement of the limbs or diabetes, you should discuss them with the surgical team before being anesthetized. 

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