“What are the after effects of anesthesia?”
I need to be under general anesthesia for gall bladder surgery. Are there any after effects that I need to be aware of?
3 Answers
Sleepiness
Might take 24 hours to fully recover
Might take 24 hours to fully recover
General anesthesia for gall bladder removal, if done through laparoscopic and not open surgery, usually leads to a recovery with little pain, and usually you can be discharged to home the same day as surgery. Otherwise, the normal side effects of general anesthesia still apply: transient grogginess when first awakening, mild sore throat or hoarse voice that is usually mild or absent, and a risk of nausea that can be easily treated.
The side effects (AKA "risks") of general anesthesia are usually divided into common side effects, uncommon side effects, and rare side effects. These side effects are dependent on multiple factors, including the patient's health (other medical problems) prior to surgery, the anesthetic agents utilized, and the surgery performed.
Common side effects of general anesthesia for gallbladder surgery in otherwise healthy patients:Sore throat (from insertion of a breathing tube)Nausea and vomitingInsignificant cardiac arrhythmiasMinor changes in blood pressure and heart rateShort term (1-2 hours) memory deficits/confusion (usually resolved by the time the patient is dsicharged from the recovery room)
Uncommon side effects of general anesthesia for gallbladder surgery in otherwise healthy patients:Bronchospasm/"Wheezing"Eye Injury (Corneal abrasion--sometimes caused by a hand or airway tool during airway instrumentation, sometimes caused by the patient trying to rub her/his nose or eye in the recovery room)Muscle achesOral/Dental TraumaSignificant changes in blood pressure/heart rate
Rare side effects of general anesthesia for gallbladder surgery in otherwise healthy patients:Too numerous to list completely, but could involve almost every organ system:PneumoniaHeart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)Significant Cardiac ArrhythmiaStroke (Cerebrovascular accident)Kidney injuryLiver injurySerious allergy to anesthetic agent Disturbances of Temperature Control/MetabolismPeripheral nerve injurySkin Injury"Awareness" during general anesthesiaDeath
Again, these lists do not cover every imaginable side effect. And, generally speaking, the more serious a "side effect", the more likely it is to transition in nomenclature from "side effect" to "complication".
And again, the above is for an "otherwise healthy" patient undergoing gallbladder surgery. In my experience, most adult patients undergoing gallbladder surgery do NOT meet the anesthetic criteria to be considered "healthy" by an anesthesiologist. Indeed, the most common public health problems of the US adult population add significant risk to general anesthesia and move some of the above side effects from the "uncommon" or "rare" category to the "common" category.
Those public health problems include:1. Obesity (BMI>25)2. Diabetes3. Tobacco abuse4. Alcohol abuse5. Other substance abuse6. Gastrointestinal disorders (GERD/Hiatal Hernia)7. Prior stroke or myocardial infarction8. Cardiac arrhythmia (e.g., atrial fibrillation)And many others . . . this is just off the top of my head.
Put another way, the risks of general anesthesia for gallbladder surgery are much different for the following two patients:1. A 35 year old who has a BMI of 22 (normal) who takes no medicines, has no allergies, does not smoke, drink, or abuse other substances, and who vigorously exercises 30-60 minutes per day 4-6 days per week. 2. A 65 year old who has a BMI of 35 (obese), takes medications for diabetes, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, prior stroke, GERD, who smokes tobacco and drinks 3-5 alcoholic beverages/day, and who has not exercised since the Clinton Administration.
What can you do to lower your anesthesia risks:1. Maintain a BMI of <252. Don't smoke3. Don't abuse alcohol.4. Don't abuse other substances5. Exercise regularly6. Follow the directions of your anesthesiologist, surgeon, internist, and any other specialist (e.g., cardiologist)
Good luck with your surgery.
Common side effects of general anesthesia for gallbladder surgery in otherwise healthy patients:Sore throat (from insertion of a breathing tube)Nausea and vomitingInsignificant cardiac arrhythmiasMinor changes in blood pressure and heart rateShort term (1-2 hours) memory deficits/confusion (usually resolved by the time the patient is dsicharged from the recovery room)
Uncommon side effects of general anesthesia for gallbladder surgery in otherwise healthy patients:Bronchospasm/"Wheezing"Eye Injury (Corneal abrasion--sometimes caused by a hand or airway tool during airway instrumentation, sometimes caused by the patient trying to rub her/his nose or eye in the recovery room)Muscle achesOral/Dental TraumaSignificant changes in blood pressure/heart rate
Rare side effects of general anesthesia for gallbladder surgery in otherwise healthy patients:Too numerous to list completely, but could involve almost every organ system:PneumoniaHeart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)Significant Cardiac ArrhythmiaStroke (Cerebrovascular accident)Kidney injuryLiver injurySerious allergy to anesthetic agent Disturbances of Temperature Control/MetabolismPeripheral nerve injurySkin Injury"Awareness" during general anesthesiaDeath
Again, these lists do not cover every imaginable side effect. And, generally speaking, the more serious a "side effect", the more likely it is to transition in nomenclature from "side effect" to "complication".
And again, the above is for an "otherwise healthy" patient undergoing gallbladder surgery. In my experience, most adult patients undergoing gallbladder surgery do NOT meet the anesthetic criteria to be considered "healthy" by an anesthesiologist. Indeed, the most common public health problems of the US adult population add significant risk to general anesthesia and move some of the above side effects from the "uncommon" or "rare" category to the "common" category.
Those public health problems include:1. Obesity (BMI>25)2. Diabetes3. Tobacco abuse4. Alcohol abuse5. Other substance abuse6. Gastrointestinal disorders (GERD/Hiatal Hernia)7. Prior stroke or myocardial infarction8. Cardiac arrhythmia (e.g., atrial fibrillation)And many others . . . this is just off the top of my head.
Put another way, the risks of general anesthesia for gallbladder surgery are much different for the following two patients:1. A 35 year old who has a BMI of 22 (normal) who takes no medicines, has no allergies, does not smoke, drink, or abuse other substances, and who vigorously exercises 30-60 minutes per day 4-6 days per week. 2. A 65 year old who has a BMI of 35 (obese), takes medications for diabetes, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, prior stroke, GERD, who smokes tobacco and drinks 3-5 alcoholic beverages/day, and who has not exercised since the Clinton Administration.
What can you do to lower your anesthesia risks:1. Maintain a BMI of <252. Don't smoke3. Don't abuse alcohol.4. Don't abuse other substances5. Exercise regularly6. Follow the directions of your anesthesiologist, surgeon, internist, and any other specialist (e.g., cardiologist)
Good luck with your surgery.
