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Anesthesia Complications

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General Surgery Risk Reduction

Abstract

Anesthesia has defined the capability of surgical practice within a very short time frame and has grown from a mere adjunct of surgery into a separate specialty which has significantly advanced medical practice. We now have the commonplace luxury of relatively painless surgery on a usually cooperative patient, whether under general, regional, or local anesthesia or some combination of these. Even major feats of surgery that would have been impossible in the past can be performed, and surgery continues to advance alongside that of anesthesia in a symbiotic process. While not aiming to be fully comprehensive, this chapter explains and discusses many important aspects and principles of anesthesia that are essential for surgical practice.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Essentially no longer used.

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Consent and Risk Reduction

Consent and Risk Reduction

Main Points to Explain

  • Oral/teeth/nasal injury

  • Sore throat/pharyngeal injury

  • Bleeding

  • Nausea/vomiting

  • IV access/infection

  • Respiratory problems

  • Muscle pain

  • Risk of death

  • Risks without anesthesia/surgery

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Russell, W.J., Aitkenhead, A.A., Coventry, B.J. (2014). Anesthesia Complications. In: Coventry, B. (eds) General Surgery Risk Reduction. Surgery: Complications, Risks and Consequences. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5391-7_5

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