Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEffect on the BodyCommon Side EffectsSerious Side EffectsRiskWhat to ExpectFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Effect on the Body
Common Side Effects
Serious Side Effects
Risk
What to Expect
Frequently Asked Questions
General anesthesiaside effects can range from minor problems like nausea or dry mouth to more serious ones like difficulty urinating or confusion. These side effects vary widely from person to person. General anesthesia also poses a risk of life-threatening issues such as a condition that can lead to organ failure.
Most people have no issues or only minor ones in the hours and days following their surgery. While severe reactions are rare, they do occur. Some people are at greater risk for side effects of general anesthesia than others.
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This article explains how general anesthesia affects your body, common side effects of anesthesia, and serious problems that could occur. It also explains how side effects and complications are managed or treated.
How Anesthesia Affects Your Body
General anesthesiais used during surgeries in a hospital or surgical center setting. Medication is given both as an inhaled gas and through an IV (into the vein) before and during surgery.
When you’re “put to sleep” in this way, you actually enter a state of consciousness that’s much deeper than normal sleep. You become completely unaware of your surroundings and don’t feel pain. Depending on the anesthetic depth and type, you may be able to breathe on your own or you may require a breathing tube.
Common Anesthesia Side Effects
Your healthcare provider and surgical team should be able to help prevent side effects with medication or proper care before and during surgery.
They’ll also monitor you for signs of problems and treat them (if they occur) after your procedure. When side effects do occur, they usually go away in a few hours. Common side effects include:
Nausea and Vomiting
The most common complications after general anesthesia are nausea and vomiting. You’re more likely to experience postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) if you have a history of nausea and vomiting after previous surgery.
Anti-nausea medication can usually be given before surgery toprevent PONV. Medications can also be used to treat nausea when it does happen. These medications may include:
Nausea and Vomiting After Surgery
Sore Throat or Hoarseness
The breathing tube may leave you with asore throator a hoarse voice. The longer the surgery, the more likely this is to occur.
While throat problems usually can’t be prevented, sore throat sprays, lozenges, and other medications canreduce throat painin the days immediately after surgery.
Hoarseness that isn’t improving more than five to seven days after surgery should be addressed with a healthcare provider.
Dry Mouth
It may also be due to the drying effect of anesthesia medications.
Dry mouth usually goes away within 24 hours after surgery. Meanwhile, you can use water or ice to relieve the discomfort.
Shivering or Chills
Certain medications that are given during surgery can cause shivering or chills. These symptoms typically resolve once the medication wears off.
Chills can also be the result of a small drop in body temperature during surgery. Covering up with extra blankets should help you get comfortable until the chills pass.
Afevercan also cause chills and shivering. A fever immediately after surgery is more likely if you had an infection before the procedure.
Sleepiness
The medication used for general anesthesia can cause drowsiness. In fact, you may doze on and off in the hours following surgery.
After a good night of sleep, you should feel more like yourself.
Muscle Aches
Paralytic medications—powerful muscle relaxants—used with general anesthesia are known to cause muscle aches.
Lying completely still in one position during surgery can also cause soreness.
Itching
The medications given during and after surgery can, and often do, leave your skin feeling itchy.
Serious Anesthesia Side Effects
You’ll have frequent postoperative checks in the first few hours after surgery. If you’re showing signs of a serious complication during your recovery, you may need immediate treatment. Some serious side effects of general anesthesia include the following:
Confusion
As you come out of anesthesia after surgery, you may experience an altered mental state due to the medication. Waking up in an unfamiliar setting like the hospital can contribute to confusion or agitation.
This is especially common in those who are of advanced age, have Alzheimer’s disease, or suffer from other types of dementia or cognitive problems.
The cognitive issues usually last until the anesthesia completely clears the body.
Confusion After Surgery and Anesthesia
Urination Problems
General anesthesia paralyzes the bladder muscles. This can make it not only hard to pee, but impact your ability to recognize that you have to urinate.
Additionally, many surgeries involve the placement of aFoley catheter—a tube put in the body to drain urine from the bladder. Both trouble urinating and urine leakage may occur in the days following its removal.
It’s also common to feel irritation and a burning sensation when you pee after having a catheter. This is sometimes mistaken for aurinary tract infection (UTI). While you are at risk for a UTI after having a Foley, most patients don’t get one.
In rare cases, a patient cannot urinate after surgery at all. If this problem lasts for several hours, and you are no longer at the hospital or surgical center, seek immediate medical attention.
Post-Op Urinary Retention: When You Can’t Pee After Surgery
Intestinal Problems
In some cases, the intestines still can’t properly move food and waste through the digestive system days after surgery. This is called anileus.
Usually, this problem resolves within five days of surgery.
During same-day surgery, the patient is often kept in the recovery room until they begin topass gas, which is a sign that they don’t have an ileus and can safely go home.
Difficulty Getting Off the Ventilator
The breathing tube is usually removed as soon as surgery is over and you’re able to breathe on your own. For some older adults or people who have other medical conditions, the ventilator may be left in place for a few hours after surgery.
In rare cases, some may require an extended stay in an intensive care area while the healthcare team works to get the patient breathing independently.
Ventilator Use During and After Surgery
Aspiration and Pneumonia
Aspiration is when saliva, food, or fluid is accidentally inhaled into the lungs during surgery.
When this happens in everyday life, you may call it “something going down the wrong pipe.” Thelungs are cleared after you coughthe food or liquid back up.
But during surgery, you can’t cough and aren’t even aware that something’s going down the wrong pipe.
This is a potentially serious problem. If undigested material goes into the lungs, it can lead to pneumonia.
To avoid this, you’re required to refrain from food and drink for a certain number of hours before surgery. If your stomach is empty, there’s less chance of aspiration.
If you do end up with aspiration pneumonia, you’ll need antibiotics and may need to be readmitted to the hospital.
Overview of Aspiration Pneumonia
Blood Clots
Being in the same position for several hours during surgery can increase the risk of forming ablood clot, known as adeep vein thrombosis(DVT), after surgery. These clots most often happen in the legs.
The last thing you may feel like doing soon after surgery is getting up and walking around. However, your medical team will encourage it to prevent blood clots from forming.
Malignant Hyperthermia
This extremely serious condition causes a high fever and muscle contractions. It can lead to organ failure if not diagnosed and treated quickly.
If you have a family history of malignant hyperthermia, a blood test can identify if you carry the gene that puts you at risk.
Anesthesia Awareness
Anesthesia awareness is a rare condition that occurs when anesthesia doesn’t make a person fully unconscious.
Patients report experiences ranging from remembering conversations held in the operating room during their surgery to being able to see, hear, and feel everything that happens during the procedure.
Anesthesia awareness is not common when appropriate anesthesia is given during the procedure.
Why Does Anesthesia Awareness Occur?
Death
Death during general anesthesia is rare. For healthy people, the risk of dying under general anesthesia is roughly 1 in 100,000.The risk increases for people who have long-term medical conditions like kidney or heart disease, diabetes, or lung problems. People who are undergoing surgery for a serious medical problem also have an increased risk of death.
What Increases Your Risk for Side Effects and Complications?
Side effects related to general anesthesia affect different people for different reasons. Whether or not you experience complications, and the severity of them, depend on factors such as:
For example, a child with no health issues who is given general anesthesia for an hour-long surgery to remove the tonsils will likely have fewer complications than an 85-year-old person who smokes and is under for several hours for open-heart surgery.
The risks of general anesthesia are not the only risks you need to be aware of before surgery. There are alsorisks of the surgeryitself. With every procedure, there are possible problems that can occur that are unrelated to the anesthesia.
For example, a patient having surgery to remove the appendix may be at risk for an infection spreading from the appendix. There’s also the risk of developing an infection at the incision.
Be sure to share as much detail about your health history and potential risk factors—whether you’re sure it’s relevant or not—with your healthcare team during your consultations leading up to your procedure.
This can help them sidestep potential issues ahead of time and put them on high alert for issues during and after your procedure.
What to Expect During and After General Anesthesia
You will need to stop eating and drinking for a period of time before undergoing anesthesia. This is typically at least six hours, but make sure to discuss this with your healthcare provider.
Before Anesthesia
Before you undergo anesthesia, your anesthesiologists will take your medical history and discuss any prescription medications you might be taking. You will also go over any drug allergies you might have and your past experiences (if any) with anesthesia.
During Anesthesia
The anesthesia is typically delivered intravenously, though in some cases it may be a gas that you breathe through a mask. During anesthesia, you will need to have a breathing tube fitted into your windpipe to help you breathe. Your anesthesiologist will monitor you during the procedure to make sure your blood pressure, body temperature, and breathing are normal. They may make adjustments to your medication as needed.
After Anesthesia
Your breathing tube will be removed at the end of the procedure. You will wake up as the anesthetic medications are stopped. You may wake in the operating room or in a separate recovery room. You should expect to feel groggy and/or confused. You may also feel nauseous. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medication to combat the nausea and any pain you are experiencing as a result of the procedure.
It is unsafe to drive after you’ve been under anesthesia, so if the procedure does not require a hospital stay, you will need to have someone drive you home.
Summary
Serious complications related to anesthesia are rare. Minor side effects usually resolve quickly and do not warrant a middle-of-the-night trip to the ER. The most common problem, nausea, can often be prevented altogether with medication.
However, an inability to urinate; difficulty breathing; severe swelling; bleeding, or pain; or any signs of a serious complication need to be evaluated and treated promptly. Call for professional advice orgo to the emergency roomwithout delay.
Some people are more at risk for complications than others, including older adults and people with pre-existing conditions. Make sure you discuss your medical history and habits in full with your healthcare team before surgery so risk factors can be brought to light.
4 Main Types of Anesthesia and How They’re Used
Frequently Asked QuestionsAround 24 hours. That is why it’s advisable not to drive, try to work, or do any other activity that requires your full attention for at least a day after receiving general anesthesia.It may have less to do with the anesthesia than with the energy your body is using to heal from whateverprocedureyou had. Grogginess may also be due to post-operative painmedicationsor jumping back into your regular activities too soon.There’s some evidencecaffeinemight do the job. In studies, caffeine given intravenously had a number of positive effects on recovery from general anesthesia, such as returning breathing to normal.
Around 24 hours. That is why it’s advisable not to drive, try to work, or do any other activity that requires your full attention for at least a day after receiving general anesthesia.
It may have less to do with the anesthesia than with the energy your body is using to heal from whateverprocedureyou had. Grogginess may also be due to post-operative painmedicationsor jumping back into your regular activities too soon.
There’s some evidencecaffeinemight do the job. In studies, caffeine given intravenously had a number of positive effects on recovery from general anesthesia, such as returning breathing to normal.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mendels EJ, Brunings JW, Hamaekers AEW.Adverse laryngeal effects following short-term general anesthesia.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012;138(3):257-264. doi:10.1001/archoto.2011.1427American Society of Anesthesiologists.Effects of anesthesia.Shariat Moharari R, Motalebi M, Najafi A, et al.Magnesium can decrease postoperative physiological ileus and postoperative pain in major non laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgeries: A randomized controlled trial.Anesth Pain Med.2013 Dec 6;4(1):e12750. doi:10.5812/aapm.12750Epstein SK, Joyce-Brady MF.Management of the difficult-to-wean adult patient in the intensive care unit.Nason KS.Acute intraoperative pulmonary aspiration.Thorac Surg Clin. 2015;25(3):301–307. doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2015.04.011American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Preventing blood clots after orthopaedic surgery.American Society of Anesthesiologists.Anesthesia awareness (waking up) during surgery.Schiff JH, Welker A, Fohr B.Major incidents and complications in otherwise healthy patients undergoing elective procedures: Results based on 1.37 million anaesthetic procedures.Br J Anaesth.2014;113(1):109–121. doi:10.1093/bja/aeu094Patient UK.Death or brain damage from anaesthesia.University of Michigan Health.General Anesthesia.University of Melbourne.Health Check: Why can you feel groggy days after an operation?Bright M, Raman V, Laupland KB.Use of therapeutic caffeine in acute care postoperative and critical care settings: a scoping review.BMC Anesthesiol. 2021;21(1):100. doi:10.1186/s12871-021-01320-xAdditional ReadingNational Institute of General Medical Sciences.Anesthesia fact sheet.
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mendels EJ, Brunings JW, Hamaekers AEW.Adverse laryngeal effects following short-term general anesthesia.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012;138(3):257-264. doi:10.1001/archoto.2011.1427American Society of Anesthesiologists.Effects of anesthesia.Shariat Moharari R, Motalebi M, Najafi A, et al.Magnesium can decrease postoperative physiological ileus and postoperative pain in major non laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgeries: A randomized controlled trial.Anesth Pain Med.2013 Dec 6;4(1):e12750. doi:10.5812/aapm.12750Epstein SK, Joyce-Brady MF.Management of the difficult-to-wean adult patient in the intensive care unit.Nason KS.Acute intraoperative pulmonary aspiration.Thorac Surg Clin. 2015;25(3):301–307. doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2015.04.011American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Preventing blood clots after orthopaedic surgery.American Society of Anesthesiologists.Anesthesia awareness (waking up) during surgery.Schiff JH, Welker A, Fohr B.Major incidents and complications in otherwise healthy patients undergoing elective procedures: Results based on 1.37 million anaesthetic procedures.Br J Anaesth.2014;113(1):109–121. doi:10.1093/bja/aeu094Patient UK.Death or brain damage from anaesthesia.University of Michigan Health.General Anesthesia.University of Melbourne.Health Check: Why can you feel groggy days after an operation?Bright M, Raman V, Laupland KB.Use of therapeutic caffeine in acute care postoperative and critical care settings: a scoping review.BMC Anesthesiol. 2021;21(1):100. doi:10.1186/s12871-021-01320-xAdditional ReadingNational Institute of General Medical Sciences.Anesthesia fact sheet.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mendels EJ, Brunings JW, Hamaekers AEW.Adverse laryngeal effects following short-term general anesthesia.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012;138(3):257-264. doi:10.1001/archoto.2011.1427American Society of Anesthesiologists.Effects of anesthesia.Shariat Moharari R, Motalebi M, Najafi A, et al.Magnesium can decrease postoperative physiological ileus and postoperative pain in major non laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgeries: A randomized controlled trial.Anesth Pain Med.2013 Dec 6;4(1):e12750. doi:10.5812/aapm.12750Epstein SK, Joyce-Brady MF.Management of the difficult-to-wean adult patient in the intensive care unit.Nason KS.Acute intraoperative pulmonary aspiration.Thorac Surg Clin. 2015;25(3):301–307. doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2015.04.011American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Preventing blood clots after orthopaedic surgery.American Society of Anesthesiologists.Anesthesia awareness (waking up) during surgery.Schiff JH, Welker A, Fohr B.Major incidents and complications in otherwise healthy patients undergoing elective procedures: Results based on 1.37 million anaesthetic procedures.Br J Anaesth.2014;113(1):109–121. doi:10.1093/bja/aeu094Patient UK.Death or brain damage from anaesthesia.University of Michigan Health.General Anesthesia.University of Melbourne.Health Check: Why can you feel groggy days after an operation?Bright M, Raman V, Laupland KB.Use of therapeutic caffeine in acute care postoperative and critical care settings: a scoping review.BMC Anesthesiol. 2021;21(1):100. doi:10.1186/s12871-021-01320-x
Mendels EJ, Brunings JW, Hamaekers AEW.Adverse laryngeal effects following short-term general anesthesia.Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012;138(3):257-264. doi:10.1001/archoto.2011.1427
American Society of Anesthesiologists.Effects of anesthesia.
Shariat Moharari R, Motalebi M, Najafi A, et al.Magnesium can decrease postoperative physiological ileus and postoperative pain in major non laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgeries: A randomized controlled trial.Anesth Pain Med.2013 Dec 6;4(1):e12750. doi:10.5812/aapm.12750
Epstein SK, Joyce-Brady MF.Management of the difficult-to-wean adult patient in the intensive care unit.
Nason KS.Acute intraoperative pulmonary aspiration.Thorac Surg Clin. 2015;25(3):301–307. doi:10.1016/j.thorsurg.2015.04.011
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Preventing blood clots after orthopaedic surgery.
American Society of Anesthesiologists.Anesthesia awareness (waking up) during surgery.
Schiff JH, Welker A, Fohr B.Major incidents and complications in otherwise healthy patients undergoing elective procedures: Results based on 1.37 million anaesthetic procedures.Br J Anaesth.2014;113(1):109–121. doi:10.1093/bja/aeu094
Patient UK.Death or brain damage from anaesthesia.
University of Michigan Health.General Anesthesia.
University of Melbourne.Health Check: Why can you feel groggy days after an operation?
Bright M, Raman V, Laupland KB.Use of therapeutic caffeine in acute care postoperative and critical care settings: a scoping review.BMC Anesthesiol. 2021;21(1):100. doi:10.1186/s12871-021-01320-x
National Institute of General Medical Sciences.Anesthesia fact sheet.
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