What are the anaesthetic risks?

There is no safer place in the world to be anaesthetised than here in Australia, nevertheless some people are at increased risk for complications, particularly because of existing health problems such as heart and respiratory diseases, diabetes, obesity and other pre-existing illnesses. Even healthy patients have risks.

Common side effects following anaesthesia include: bruising or pain at the site of injections, a sore throat, and postoperative nausea or vomiting. These are generally only short-lived. The risk of these is about 1 in 3 to 1 in 100 patients.

Uncommon side effects include persisting hoarse voice, prolonged nausea and vomiting, post-operative breathing problems, damage to lips, tongue, eyes and teeth, pins and needles or weakness from pressure on nerves in the arms or legs, and aspiration pneumonia from inhaling stomach contents. The risk of these is about 1 in 100 to 1 in 5000 patients.

Very Rare side effects include awareness, severe allergy, heart attack, stroke, paralysis, deep vein thrombosis and death. The risk of these is about 1 in 5000 to 1 in 150,000 patients.

Your Anaesthetist will be happy to answer any further questions you have prior to your procedure.