| Is spinal anesthesia dangerous? |
No. Complications of this technique are no less or greater than other techniques.
|
| What are the complications of anesthesia? |
|
In former years, pneumonia and lung collapse were the commonest complications. Today these
complications are extremely rare and when they do occur, the anesthetist follows a
well-prescribed course of treatment, which almost invariably leads to prompt cure. Following spinal
anesthesia, headache is the most frequently encountered complication. This too can be
resolved within a few days by proper treatment or may be avoided entirely if epidural anesthesia is used.
|
| How do modern anesthetists prevent complications? |
|
By seeing that the patient has, at all times and with any and every type of anesthesia, a proper oxygen intake during the
entire operative procedure. By maintaining a proper
airway from the outside to the lungs. It is frequently necessary for the anesthetist to
pass instruments into the bronchial tubes and suck out mucous secretions. This helps to
prevent postoperative pneumonia or lung collapse.
|
| Does the anesthetist look after the general condition of the patient
during the operation? |
Yes. It is his responsibility to see that heart action, blood pressure, and other vital
functions are maintained. He will advise the surgeon if he thinks the patient's condition
is precarious. He will treat any evidences of shock by giving shock-preventing medications
or by giving blood, plasma, oxygen, etc.
|
| How long can one safely be kept under anesthesia? |
|
When properly administered, anesthesia can be
continued for many hours. In certain types of cases, patients are kept under continuous anesthesia for six to eight hours. When improperly administered, that is, when sufficient oxygen is
not supplied to the patient's brain, even a short anesthesia
of five to ten minutes can do permanent damage. Brain cells demand a constant supply of
oxygen and they will die if deprived for even a few minutes.
|
| Do patients ever die from an overdose of anesthesia? |
|
Anesthetic deaths are extremely rare today. Modern methods of administration as well as
newer techniques in resuscitation render anesthesia
extremely safe. |
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