“Can anesthesia lead to neurological issues?”
My father was administered general anesthesia for a medical procedure. After the procedure was over, he has been talking vaguely and complaining of hand tremors. Is it a side effect of the procedure or the anesthesia?
5 Answers
Depends on the procedure. One would want to be sure that he didn't have a stroke. For instance. if he endured prolonged hypotension or hypoxia. Sometimes it may be an effect of depressant drugs that may have been administered during anesthesia. If symptoms are getting better, probably nothing to be too concerned about.
Post operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a well known risk of surgery. Speak with your physician anesthesiologist about his specific risks.
Hello,
As a person ages and becomes of advanced age, their mind can become more vulnerable to the effects of anesthesia. The extent of this effect can vary from person to person and is usually temporary.
Dr Ketch
As a person ages and becomes of advanced age, their mind can become more vulnerable to the effects of anesthesia. The extent of this effect can vary from person to person and is usually temporary.
Dr Ketch
George A. Mampilly
Anesthesiologist
With the information you have provided, it is hard to give an exact answer. Immediately after anesthesia, while recovering from it in the recovery room, it is not uncommon for some amount of confusion and vague talking. Likewise, hand tremors could be due to shivering which is also not uncommon after anesthesia and surgery. However, it would be very unusual for any of this to be present by the time they send you out of the recovery room.
Could be both. Hard to tell without knowing your father's medical history, medications, type of procedure performed and anesthetic used.
