“Does anesthesia cause respiratory depression?”

It can, depending upon the type of anesthesia needed for the particular surgical procedure and the possible prolonged period of time needed for that procedure. However, be assured that the anesthesiologists are well trained and experienced in dealing with the situation, whatever the cause.

Yes, it can, especially with general anesthesia. But the incidence is very, very low.

All Anesthetic agents given at the depth necessary for surgery to be performed caused respiratory depression. That is why ventilation is controlled or assisted during anesthesia. At the end of surgery, the depth of anesthesia is reduced and the respiratory depression resolves. This may require reversal of muscle relaxing agents if they were given. Some patients are more sensitive to opioids as respiratory depressants than others (such as people with obstructive sleep apnea or pulmonary diseases such as COPD). Anesthesiologists observe patients carefully during recovery to make sure that there is not excess respiratory depression.

That is sort of a tricky question because the broad term "anesthesia" encompasses many aspects of our practice. There are different levels of "anesthesia" given to patients depending on what procedure is being performed as well as specific comorbidities that the patient has. There is MAC anesthesia where sedatives, narcotics, and/or hypnotics are given at varying doses to render the patient unconscious as the dose increases. Respiratory depression is a dose-dependent phenomenon in MAC or sedation cases. "Going all the way to sleep" or induction of general anesthesia requires enough of these medicines to make the patient unable to breath on their own and require mechanical ventilation. Some of the lighter levels of
sedation that fall under the MAC category, may or may not depress the patient's respiratory drive.
I hope this answer helps.

Yes. General anesthesia can cause respiratory arrest, but we help you breathe.