6/10/2016 Anesthesia,SpecificAdverseEffectsAndPrecautions|Docplexus

Anesthesia,SpecificAdverseEffects Anesthesiology GeneralMedicine

AndPrecautions Pharmacology/ClinicalPharmacology

Yesterdayat2:29PM Votes(7) Comments(5)

+264 views

Onemaycomeacrosstheadverseeffectofanesthesiaduringasurgeryorprocedure,orafterwardwhilerecovering
whentheanesthesiaissubsiding.Thepossiblesideeffectsvary,dependingonwhatkindofanesthesiayouhave
general,regionalorlocal.Pain,nausea,vomiting,respiratorydepression,cardiacdepression,hypothermia,urinary
retention,andnerveinjuryarethecommonadverseeffectofgeneral,regionalandlocalanesthesia.Herethearticle
describesthespecificsideeffectsandprecautionsofanesthesia.

Specificadverseeffectsofgeneralanesthesia

Anaphylaxis:itcanoccurfromanyanestheticagentandthesymptomsincluderash,urticaria,bronchospasm,hypotension,angioedema,andvomiting.
Theseadversereactionscanbecarefullymonitoredduringpreoperativeassessment.Incaseofallergies,aprovocationtestingorskinpricktestingis
necessaryandthepatientshouldbereferredtotheimmunologists.
Aspirationpneumonitis:Thisoccurswhenapatientaspirate,thevomituscontentintothelungswhichcanleadtolunginflammationwithinfection.The
riskofthisdiseasecanbereducedbyfastingforseveralhoursprioranesthesiaandalsobytheuseofcricoidcartilageduringinductionofanesthesia.
Peripheralnervedamage:Thiscanoccurduetonervecompressioninalltypeofanesthesiawhenulnarandperonealnervesareaffected.Preventionof
extremeposturesforlongperiodsduringsurgerycanavoidnervedamage.
Teethdamage:Itthemostcommoncauseclaimedbytheanesthetistsandcanbeavoidedinpreoperativeassessment.

Specificadverseeffectsofregionalanesthesia

Postduralpunctureheadache(PDPH):Thisisverycommoninadultsandobstetricsafterspinalanesthesia.Itusuallyoccurswhenthereisa
cerebrospinalfluid(CSF)leakageatthepuncturesite.PDPHcanbetreatedwithanalgesiaandmedicationssuchasgabapentin,theophylline,and
hydrocortisone.
Totalspinalblock:Thisleadstorapidmuscleparalysisduetoinjectionofthelargevolumeofanestheticagentsintothespinalcord.Sometimesthe
spinalblockmovesupthespinalcordresultinginunconsciousnessduetorespiratoryinsult.Toavoidthissituation,thepatientshouldbeexaminedfor
intubationandventilateduntilthespinalblockwearsoff.
Hypotension:Mostofthepatientsreceivingspinalanesthesiawilldeveloptransienthypotensionduesympatheticnerveblockade.Attimes,hypotension
canbesevereandmayrequirevasopressorsalongwithpressure.Precautionsshouldbetakeninpatientswithcardiachistoryasitmayleadto
myocardialischemia.
https://www.docplexus.in/#/app/posts/d0b306cb95e941f79747ea730e5a45b0?utm_term=EmailDigest0eve&utm_campaign=EmailDigest&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Docplexus.in&utm_content=CTA 1/2
6/10/2016 Anesthesia,SpecificAdverseEffectsAndPrecautions|Docplexus

Neurologicaldeficits:Caudeequinasyndromeisthecommonreasonforpatientstorefusespinalanesthesia.Adhesivearachnoiditisisalongtermsequel
ofspinalanesthesialastingweeksandevenmonthslater.Highdosesofcorticosteroidsmayberecommended.

Specificadverseeffectsoflocalanesthesia

Bleedingandhematomaformation,andischemicnecrosisarethespecificadverseeffectsoflocalanesthesia.Vasoconstrictorsareusefuladditivesto
localanestheticsolutions.Theycanenhancethedurationandqualityoftheanestheticblockwhilealsodecreasingsurgicalbloodloss.Precautionsmust
betaken,however,whenusingvasoconstrictorswithcertainpatients,especiallythosewithcardiovasculardisease.

Ifyouvehadanyoftheseorothersideeffectsorcomplicationswithpastsurgeriesorprocedures,tellyourphysiciananesthesiologist,whomaybeabletogive
youmedicinebeforeoraftertheprocedure,ormakeotheradjustmentstopreventitfromhappeningagain.

References

1.KroigaardM,GarveyL,MenneT.Allergicreactionsinanaesthesia:aresuspectedcausesconfirmedonsubsequenttesting?.BrJAnaesth.Oct
20059(4)468471.
2.ButlerJ,SenA.Bestevidencetopicreport.Cricoidpressureinemergencyrapidsequenceinduction.EmergMedJ.Nov200522(11):815816.
3.BorgeatA.Neurologicdeficitafterperipheralnerveblock:whattodo?.MinervaAnestesiol.Jun200571(6):353355.
4.Importantcomplicationsofanesthesia.(15a,15b)patient.info/doctor/importantcomplicationsofanaesthesia.[23042016]

WhenandHow,Canananesthesiologistbestidentifyofhavingproblemsfromanesthesiainapatient?

https://www.docplexus.in/#/app/posts/d0b306cb95e941f79747ea730e5a45b0?utm_term=EmailDigest0eve&utm_campaign=EmailDigest&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=Docplexus.in&utm_content=CTA 2/2