As with any activity in life there are risks associated with surgery and anaesthesia. Through its very strict training and standards for its Anaesthetists, statistics show that Australia is one of the safest places in the world to have anaesthesia.
Furthermore we never undertake an anaesthetic if we think that the risk of the anaesthetic outweighs the benefit of the surgery. However there are still potential risks of which you should be aware.
For General Anaesthesia these include:
Common short term minor problems:
- Pain at the surgical site
- Drowsiness or confusion
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain or bruising or inflammation at intravenous sites
- Sore throat, muscle aches
Very rare major problems include:
- Allergic reactions to medications
- Dental damage when placing breathing tube
- Breathing problems such as pneumonia or breathing difficulties
- Strokes, brain injury, nerve injuries or awareness
- Heart problems such as heart attacks
When used appropriately, the risks associated with regional anaesthesia (eg epidurals, spinals or peripheral nerve blocks) are less than for general anaesthesia or morphine type medications. The risks may include:
- Pain on placement
- inadequate or patchy block
- Numbness at site
- infection
- headaches or pain
- Very rare issues include nerve damage causing paralysis (temporary or permanent)