Complications of G.A

Went for an appointment today with my local private hospital about having a B.A. and saw the GP. She went through the usual questions about why I want one etc, she also said because it was my choice to have an operation because it was cosmetic and not because of medical reasons she needed to make me fully aware of the risks of the G.A and that basically there is the small risk I could die on the operating table! Cause she said this my husband is now having second thoughts about me having the op. Does anyone know what the statistics are for this or the likely hood of this happening? Has anyone ever heard of anyone dying from a g.a.? Just not sure what to do now!

There are so many procedures that happen everyday . Anesthesiologist go through so much training and experiences that if anything were to happen they know wht to do, that’s why they make over 400hundred k a year, no worries hun

I was scared about this and cried as I was going in for my op and told the nurse I was so frightened I wouldn’t wake up and she told me it just wouldn’t happen. I think if anything goes wrong with the GA they have everything they need there to sort it out right away. Just double check with your clinic nurse to put your mind at rest xx

Its very very low risk but if you are that worried about it ask if they will do twilight for you?

I have an unrational fear of general anaesthetic, that’s why I put it off for so many years.. and so I asked for twilight local instead as the risks are not there as such, I would not of been able to go through with being put to sleep I dont think, just with having my little boy I just felt sick about it.

Only some clinics do this so worth asking if they do it.

xx

Hey, I think the doctors and nurses have a duty to tell you the pros and cons of everything so you can make an informed decision yourself about whether you want to go ahead. I think they probably tend to focus on the negatives rather than the positives for cosmetic procedures cos most people will be aware of the benefits but may not have considered the risk as much.

I just did a quick search online and found this link from the NHS which mentions different complications and risks of GA and roughly how common they are which may answer your query… Overall the serious ones are not very common at all. It says death as a result of GA is very rare, 1 in 100,000 chance. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anaesthetic-general/Pages/Definition.aspx

Just to reiterate the other girls, there are standard procedures put in place for every eventuality and you’re so closely monitored they can act quickly if something should arise. The doctors and nurses will do everything they can to make sure you’re safe. x

Hi Claire

My husband works in a hospital theatre and he explained exactly what happens when they put you under a GA. Infact, I was in tears after he explained because it is that scary.

If you or anybody really wants to know, I’ll tell you, but honestly, ignorance is better in this case.

BUT, in the 20 years he’s been doing it, only had one emergency on a little boy.

He aspirated (stomach contents went into lungs) It turns out his mum gave him a packet of crisps about an hour before the op as she thought crisps didn’t count as food.

That’s why it’s soooo important to do as they say ie no food, no drink, no false eye lashes/nails, no jewellery, no make up. It’s all there for a good reason.

My husband was quite happy for me to go under a GA as although there is a risk, its very small.

Maria xx

19fairho, I’m interested to no what actually happens, could you pm me and tell me, Ive had my surgery now so I’d lm interested to no. I prob wouldn’t want to if I was still waiting for my op. xx

Hi Gina

Just pm you

It’s around 1 in 100,000 but this survey also includes elderly patients, so my surgeon said if it was done on just younger people such as people that have a ba it probably would be much less, more like the 1 in 500,000 Mr k said but just to put some other things in line you are more likely to die in childbirth, the risk for that is 8 in 100,000, risk of dying while driving to work is 1 in 40,000. Everyday we do things that involve risks we just don’t think bout it He said there’s more risk dying going to work. I’m terrified but just gonna have to try and not Think bout it and stay posative xx

Good info Beckie

My hubby has done about 20,000 procedures in 20 years and only had one emergency

on a little boy, which could have been avoided if the mum did as she was told.

One point to note, if your medical history puts you at a high risk, you will not be offered a non-essential procedure under GA. eg. my mum is about 22 stone and deperately needs a knee replacement, but because of her weight and high blood pressure, she has been told to loose about 5 stone before they’ll even consider it.

Yep exactly mine was postpone as ladt time I had GA, I got a swelling on my arm, mya wanted to investigate it before they put me to sleep got all the info from my hospital and are satisfied that I’m healthy enough and that it was just one of these things that happend as nothing is recorded saying it was a reaction or anything xx

Thanks for all your replies, have let my hubby know and he is feeling a lot more positive about it and so am I. Looks like I’ll still be getting my new boobs!

Can’t believe that mum gave her little boy food before his op, she must of felt so guilty!

I was really scared of being put to sleep and the nurses were so nice. She cuddled me all the way up in the lift and didn’t leave me until I was on the bed. Another nurse spoke to me and I didn’t even realise they were putting me to sleep. I woke up in my room and don’t remember being in recovery at all. I took ages to wake up and the anaesthetitist stayed with me until I was ok. Their only job is to look after you. He came down later in the evening to check I was awake and ok. They were great with me, there’s nothing to worry about.

they were really great with me when i fainted before my op, it was only excitement and dehydration but they gave me an ecg and checked everyhting ovr before i went down to theatre. @19fairho – i’d love to know what happens when you have a ga- could you pm me too? xx

May sound strange but i loved my GA. The anaesthetist asked me what my favourite tipple was and that i’d feel like id had a few…a few, i felt hammered!!! When i woke up i was just really sleepy and snoozed on and off all say which was great. The nurses were fab and i loved my whole day.

19fairho i’d love to know what happens in a ga too, now im done i think it would be quite interesting to know, can you pm me please? xx

Hi Amy and Natalie

Have pm you both xx

Can you pm me what happens aswell please I’m curious now! Ive had my op so won’t be put off!! X

Lol, 19fairho, you’ve started us all off now lol! Hope you’ve got copy and paste on your laptop lol xx

Hi Gina

Yep, my copy and paste buttons are working over time this morning.

Actually, I bought this laptop in Spain (absolute emergency) and the commands are

copiar y cortar. Lucky I speak a bit of the lingo to know what it means haha

Whayley – just pm you xx

Me too please 19fairho! xx

thank you 19fairho xx

i would like to know please 19fairho, have had my op so won’t be put off! haha sorrrrry, hope you don’t mind! xx

No offence, but I don’t think that your husband should be deciding whether you have the op or not, you should be doing this for you. Anyway I suppose that’s none of my business but I was the biggest wuss about GA before my op. I was always crying and convinced myself I was going to die and I’m usually a very strong person but I felt as if I had no control over anything. My PC got the nurse to give me a call and she told me that I was more likely to crash on the way to the hospital than die under GA. if you do have an allergic reaction then they have another drug to reverse the effects of the GA. I have only ever heard of two women dying under GA while having breast surgery. The first is Cora Berger; who was a contestant on German big brother and this was a result of human error, they failed to monitor her properly and she lost oxygen to her brain which sent her into a coma and she eventually passed away 5 days later. The second is Stephanie Kuleba, an 18 year old student from Florida and she died because she had Malignant Hypethermia which is genetically passed down and affects about 1 in 500,000. That was totally unavoidable and was just really bad luck.

All surgery carries a small risk and before you even make the final decision to have surgery you need to decide if you are prepared to accept that risk and if you think it is worth it

I really liked my GA, I felt high as a kite and then I was out…it seemed like 5 minutes later and I was awake again; it was the easiest thing I’ve ever done and I can understand why your stressing but you really have nothing to worry about, I promise.

Good luck, but I really do think that this decision should be yours, and yours alone x

Thanks hun! Very interesting stuff!! X

[Author]

Posts