Home Orthopedics Can there be a fever after anesthesia? Life-saving general anesthesia: consequences you may encounter

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Can there be a fever after anesthesia? Life-saving general anesthesia: consequences you may encounter

Temperature after surgery - is this normal? This question may arise for any patient who has undergone surgery. The results of thermometry, that is, measuring body temperature, are the data on which the doctor relies when assessing the patient’s condition over time. High numbers indicate the occurrence of fever, but additional examination is required to establish the exact cause. An increase in temperature after surgery is a nonspecific symptom that occurs in a variety of conditions, not all of which can be called a disease.

Postoperative fever is considered to be an increase in temperature above 38.5 °C, which is recorded at least 2 times during the first 24 hours after completion of the operation.

However, with the development of postoperative complications, body temperature can be subfebrile - this depends on the type of pathology, age and condition of the patient, and a number of additional factors. Therefore, other criteria for determining fever are used - an increase in temperature of more than 37.2 °C in the morning and more than 37.7 °C in the evening.

Temperature after surgery in a child or adult may be due to:

Infection.
Phlebothrombosis.
Thyrotoxic crisis.

In some cases, fever is explained by immune disorders, the development of a rejection reaction after transplantation, the presence of a neoplasm, and exacerbation of chronic concomitant diseases. An increase in temperature in combination with a decrease in blood pressure is characteristic of acute adrenal insufficiency.

In the first hours after surgery on the stomach or other organ, the temperature may rise due to trembling. Severe shivering occurs as a compensatory reaction if, during surgery, the body experiences heat loss (intraoperative hypothermia) due to low temperature in the operating room, the administration of anesthetics, transfusion of solutions and the use of breathing mixtures that were not sufficiently warmed. The temperature reaches 38-39 °C and returns to normal after the shaking stops.

Temperatures within 37.1-37.4 °C after abdominal and thoracic surgery may persist for several days. If the patient feels satisfactory, there are no pathological changes in the area of the surgical wound, there is no reason to think about infection or other complication.

Symptoms

Fever is usually accompanied by:

General malaise, drowsiness.
Trembling, chills, followed by a feeling of heat.
Decreased or lack of appetite.
Loss of body weight.
Pain in muscles, joints.
Increased skin sensitivity.

Increased blood pressure and tachycardia (increased heart rate) are classic symptoms of a temperature reaction.

In some diseases they are absent, but the opposite phenomenon may occur - bradycardia.

Infection

Infection is one of the most common causes of fever after knee surgery or other surgery. The group of common infectious complications includes:

surgical wound infection;
urinary tract infections;
respiratory system infections.

According to clinical observations, the assumption of infection is more correct the later the fever appears.

In the first hours after lung surgery, the temperature is of non-infectious origin, but if a febrile reaction occurs on the second day and beyond, it is necessary to include infectious pathology in the diagnostic search.

The likelihood of developing complications largely depends on the degree of bacterial contamination of the wound.

Temperature after abdominal surgery for appendicitis is observed, as a rule, with delayed intervention and the presence of peritonitis. If the lumen of the digestive, respiratory and urinary tract is opened, the wound is considered conditionally contaminated, the risk of purulent infection increases by 5-10% compared to a clean wound surface (during prosthetics, hernia repair). Open fractures and fecal peritonitis belong to the group of contaminated wounds, in which infection is observed in almost 50% of cases.

In addition to wound infection, complications can be caused by artificial ventilation of the lungs (pneumonia), the use of a urethral catheter (cystitis), or venous access (thrombophlebitis). A temperature after surgery to remove the gallbladder above 38.5 °C should suggest a possible purulent infection (liver abscess, subdiaphragmatic abscess, peritonitis). The list of possible infectious diseases, one way or another related to surgical intervention, is quite wide. It is necessary to assume infection in the presence of elevated temperature after surgery, pain, redness and swelling in the area of the surgical wound, and the presence of purulent discharge.

It is necessary to pay attention not only to the presence of fever.

It is important to evaluate its duration, time of occurrence, the presence of sharp drops and rises in temperature, as well as symptoms indicating the location of the lesion.

For example, if the temperature after heart surgery is combined with weakness, chills and the appearance of heart murmurs, there is reason to suspect infective endocarditis.

The basis of treatment is antibacterial therapy. If infection is associated with a urethral or venous catheter, it must be removed. When a purulent focus (abscess, phlegmon) forms, surgical intervention is required.

Phlebothrombosis

During anesthesia, the activity of the blood coagulation system increases and blood flow slows down. Phlebothrombosis is a likely complication of general anesthesia with the use of muscle relaxants, more often observed in patients over 40 years of age. The risk of blood clots in the veins increases with a large volume of surgery, duration of surgical intervention over 4 hours, obesity, varicose veins of the lower extremities. A symptom of thrombosis may be fever after surgery to remove a tumor.

Clinical manifestations of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities:

Weakness, increased body temperature.
Swelling and pain in the limb.
Pale or bluish coloration of the skin.

Patients require bed rest, elevated positioning, and elastic bandaging of the limb. Anticoagulants (fraxiparin, heparin, phenylin) and antiplatelet agents (chirantil, trental) are prescribed. Thrombolysis (dissolution of a blood clot by administering streptokinase, streptase) is used according to strict indications due to the risk of bleeding. Removal of a blood clot can also be done surgically.

Thyrotoxic crisis

One of the most likely endocrine disorders in the postoperative period is thyrotoxic crisis - a condition caused by a sharp increase in the level of thyroid hormones in the blood.

Occurs in patients with diffuse toxic goiter in case of untimely detection of pathology and/or lack of adequate therapy. During surgery, the body experiences stress associated with anesthesia and surgery - this is a trigger for the development of thyrotoxic crisis. The following symptoms are observed:

High temperature after surgery on the thyroid gland, intestines and other organs, which is a manifestation of thyrotoxic crisis, is an indication for emergency medical care. Thyreostatic drugs (mercazolyl), beta-blockers (anaprilin, propranolol), glucocorticosteroids (prednisolone), and infusion therapy are used.

Increased body temperature after anesthesia

Asked by: Olga, Sarapul, Udmurt Republic

Female gender

Age: 26

Chronic diseases: not specified

Hello, on August 15, I had a hysteroscopy procedure, the endometrial tissue was removed, under anesthesia. They put me to sleep literally for 15 minutes, because the procedure itself goes quickly, but after the anesthesia it took several hours, I wanted to sleep all the time and felt sick if I got up. The next day after this procedure, the body temperature rose to 37.5, while weakness and pallor of the face, nothing else bothered me. The gynecologist prescribed an antibiotic, because she assumed that an infection could have joined, the next day, during a follow-up examination and ultrasound, the doctor said that the increase in temperature was not related to gynecology, because according to the ultrasound and when examined in the chair, everything was fine and the wound has already healed after the polyp was removed. Yes, nothing bothered me in terms of gynecology; if there was inflammation, there would be pain and discharge, but this is not the case. After 5 days of using the medications, the temperature still remains at 37.2, and I have this temperature even in the morning, after waking up, if there was an infection, then after a 5-day course of antibiotics the temperature should have returned to normal. The doctor suggested that the elevated temperature could be associated with my vegetative-vascular dystonia, that is, after anesthesia, such a reaction of the body occurred. I was diagnosed with this when I was 11 years old, I constantly have cold hands and feet, I feel hot and have increased sweating. Tell me, could this be the reason for the temperature? I can really feel my face burning and this elevated temperature, what should I do to normalize it? I’m walking around like some kind of vegetable, weak and lethargic

Loss of energy, constant fatigue, elevated body temperature (37.2), stress Good day! I am asking you for help because I am already tired of my constant uncomfortable state. It all started a year ago, in August 2014. Then, after experiencing stress (associated with the upcoming operation on the tailbone, but it did not take place due to lack of need), my blood pressure began to rise to 180/100 and was accompanied by panic attacks and attacks of fear. Before this, I never had any problems with fear, panic, or pressure. After undergoing a bunch of different examinations, it turned out that I am completely healthy and my entire condition is associated with attacks of fear and stress. For 2 months I took a huge number of drugs (glycine, Zelenin drops, captopril, anaprilin, teraligen, sermion, phenazipam, etc.). In general, each doctor offered his own treatment, but unfortunately my condition did not improve. I even quit smoking for almost a month! And then after some time everything improved by itself and the condition returned to normal. Only occasionally did a feeling of fear appear, but it quickly passed (20-40 minutes). Almost a year passed and I was very windy, I couldn’t turn my neck or my back, and literally the next day I again had the familiar syndromes - a feeling of fear and a state of stress. After seeing a doctor and undergoing a course of treatment, the pain went away. And a little later in my life there was stress related to my personal life. I took it very close to my heart (like everything that happens in my life). And for almost 4 months now I have been worried about: elevated body temperature (37. - 37.5), internal discomfort (feelings of agitation and some panic), loss of strength, mood swings, periodic dizziness. All this is further aggravated by constant thoughts about a break in my personal life. I underwent examinations in many areas: a complete blood test (general, detailed, hepatitis, HIV, blood tests, immunostatus, malaria and much more that I no longer remember), fluorography, CT of the spine, MRI of the brain with the system, MRI of the kidneys and adrenal glands , ultrasound of the abdominal organs, heart scans, thyroid scans (+ hormones), blood for tumor markers and much more. Honestly, I can’t remember everything anymore. Now I’m almost sure that my problem is in my head, or rather in my brain, which does not live calmly and measuredly. In turn, I note that physical exercise (swimming pool) and communication with friends in large groups help, but work takes a lot of time and it’s not always possible to find time for yourself. And the work, by the way, is routine and does not help to distract from your condition. I kindly ask you to help me, with advice or a recommendation, or an appointment! Because this condition really makes it difficult to lead a normal lifestyle. Thank you in advance!

3 answers

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Hello. Such a reaction from the autonomic nervous system is possible as a reaction to anesthesia and your experiences; low-grade fever can persist for a long period of time, 3-6 months. As a prophylactic measure, you can take Nervochel, 1 tablet under the tongue 30 minutes before meals, 3 times a day, for a course of 1 month.

Olga 2017-08-20 12:39

Thank you. Is it possible to cure this vegetative-vascular distance? Or what treatment can I undergo to make it feel better? Not in terms of elevated temperature, but in general?

Everything is your constitution, learn to live with it without causing aggravations. The treatment is recommended for you above.

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Recovery after anesthesia is considered an important stage of surgical treatment. Each human body has individual sensitivity to the effects of anesthetics. Some people recover from anesthesia within half an hour after it ends, while others require considerable time and medical attention. In any case, the myths about the terrible danger of general anesthesia cannot be trusted, but it is better to completely trust the experience of specialists. With the correct dosage and all necessary measures, the body fully recovers from the action of anesthetic substances in a short time.

What is the problem

At its core, anesthesia, or anesthesia, is the process of artificially inhibiting the reactions of the central nervous system to pain during a surgical operation. This depression of the nervous system is reversible and is expressed in the loss of consciousness, sensitivity and reflex reactions, as well as a significant decrease in muscle tone.

Anesthetic substances are introduced into the human body to suppress synaptic transmission of excitation to the central nervous system, which is achieved by blocking afferent impulses. At the same time, contacts in the cortical-subcortical system change, and dysfunction of the intermediate, mid and spinal cord occurs. These processes occur only during the period of anesthesia, but after the cessation of its influence everything should return to its previous course.

The human body perceives anesthetic substances differently, and therefore a number of drugs of different classes are used, and quite often a combination of several drugs is administered. The choice of their type and dosage is made by an anesthesiologist after conducting the necessary studies of individual sensitivity. In addition, depending on the extent and duration of the surgical operation, anesthesia can be of different depths: superficial, light, deep or very deep.

When prescribing a general anesthesia regimen, methods for exiting artificial retardation after completion of the operation are immediately analyzed. Naturally, the intense effect on the central nervous system, although reversible, causes significant consequences. The state after anesthesia depends on the characteristics of the body, the type of anesthetic and its dosage, and the duration of the effect.

With proper anesthesia, the human body is capable of fully recovering on its own, but this requires some time. The doctor’s task is to ensure complete and rapid rehabilitation of all temporarily suppressed functions. Immediately after the operation, the patient is sent to the intensive care unit, where primary recovery measures are carried out. The duration of resuscitation depends significantly on the person’s age and the presence of diseases.

What side effects occur?

Recovery from anesthesia includes relief from the following common symptoms:

Data on the condition after the operation are recorded and the corresponding conclusion of the surgeon is made. In order to restore the body during the stage of stay in the intensive care unit, the task is to completely eliminate them. If these symptoms remain, the patient’s stay in the clinic is extended.

Why can't you sleep after anesthesia?

In the first 2 hours after waking up, the body restores its functioning. The person is in a state of “inhibition.” Reflexes are suppressed, vision is blurry, external perception is impaired. The painkiller is removed from the body. The patient is gradually helped to wake up.

Repeated sleep after anesthesia can lead to uncontrollable complications, such as asphyxia or vomiting. If the patient remains asleep after emerging from anesthesia, it will be difficult for doctors to perform resuscitation and save him. By not allowing patients to sleep after anesthesia, the doctor creates conditions so that the anesthesia wears off as quickly as possible.

Troubleshooting

Postoperative rehabilitation associated with general anesthesia and other features of surgical treatment requires solving the following important problems:

What can you eat after anesthesia?

A special postoperative diet is established even after minor surgery, and this is a prerequisite for the recovery period. 1.5-2 hours after surgery (except for surgery of the digestive system), the patient is given a few sips of water. After this (with normal fluid tolerance), drinking is indicated every half hour with a gradual increase in volume. In the absence of negative signs, the first light meal is carried out 5-5.5 hours after surgery. For these purposes, only liquid food is suitable: broth, pureed soup.

Liquid nutrition is maintained for 3-4 days, while a frequent (up to 6 times a day) but fractional regimen is provided. If it is impossible to eat food on your own, it must be administered artificially through a tube or by drip. It is strictly prohibited to consume the following products within 1-2 days after anesthesia is removed: whole milk, carbonated drinks, plant fiber, sugar syrups.

After 3-4 days, you can switch to semi-liquid food with a predominance of pureed foods. During this period you can eat: chicken and turkey broths, pureed soups without fat, jellies, low-fat yoghurts, mousses, boiled rice porridge. The duration of maintaining a strict diet is determined by the attending physician, based on the complexity of the operation and the course of the recovery period.

Solid food is introduced gradually already 6-7 days after surgery. The dose is set within 35-45 g per day with a gradual increase in the absence of complications. After general anesthesia, it is recommended to refrain from eating fried, salty, and canned foods for a month. Important nutritional conditions are fresh preparation and optimal temperature of the dish.

Memory recovery

With deep and prolonged anesthesia, there is often a need to stimulate brain activity. Restoring memory after anesthesia sometimes becomes an important task in the postoperative period. For this purpose, elementary exercises will be quite effective.

The most effective way is to conduct a conversation with a clear formation of your thoughts.
If there is no possibility of dialogue, then such exercises can be carried out in front of a mirror, talking out loud. A good training method is solving crosswords and puzzles, and solving simple logic puzzles. One of the recommended methods is reading a book in the morning or afternoon with a detailed analysis of what you read before going to bed. You can remember small details, try to translate the plot into reality, put yourself in the place of the hero, etc. If you don’t have an interesting book at hand, then you can remember something that you once read before.

Carrying out various calculations is recognized as useful training, and you can count anything: from your previous life, what you saw outside the window, etc. Such exercises help restore memory and concentration. After discharge from the hospital, such training is not limited at all. When traveling in public transport, so many events happen outside the window that it is not difficult to come up with interesting statistics.

Proper nutrition also plays an important role in normalizing brain activity. Bitter chocolate is very useful for stimulating brain function, because... it stimulates the production of endorphins, which have a positive effect on memory. It is recommended to add almonds, walnuts, fruits, and vegetables to the diet. Positive results are found in tincture of rowan bark and clover decoction. To restore memory, it is advisable to consume blueberries.

Any surgical intervention is an extreme circumstance for a person. General anesthesia is an element that helps during surgery, but complicates life immediately after it, and therefore it is advisable to quickly get rid of its consequences. With proper restoration measures, its effect on the body can be completely neutralized in a short period of time.

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Here you will learn how to care for your child after general anesthesia or anesthesia.

What can your child do?

During the first 6 hours after anesthesia or the use of sedatives, the child may experience dizziness and imbalance. On this day, he should limit himself to only quiet activities: watching TV or videos, listening to music, playing quiet games.

If the operation or examination under anesthesia was performed on an outpatient basis and you and your child return home after it, do not allow him to do anything that requires a good sense of balance that day. Playing football or hockey, roller skating, cycling, swimming and other active games should be postponed until tomorrow. Today the child must remain under your supervision. He will be able to return to his normal lifestyle and activities tomorrow unless the doctor orders otherwise.

What can a child eat and drink?

After anesthesia, it is very important to drink. Give your child non-carbonated liquid or liquid food: water, broth, clear, still lemonade, clear juices.

If your child doesn't have an upset stomach and doesn't feel sick after drinking, he or she can eat a small meal, such as a small portion of soup with toast or a cracker. But for now, do not give him heavy food, fried foods, sandwiches, food containing milk and dairy products (cheese, yoghurt, ice cream). After anesthesia, they may cause abdominal pain or vomiting.

How to help with an upset stomach

If your child has a stomach ache or is vomiting, give him small amounts of water often. Give him a small piece of dried bread or a cracker to eat, which often relieves an upset stomach.

If abdominal pain or nausea lasts more than 6 hours after you come out of anesthesia, tell your doctor or call an ambulance immediately.

How to help a child with pain

If your child is undergoing outpatient surgery under anesthesia, consult with your doctor in advance about what pain medication can be given to your child at home if necessary. If you are in a hospital and your child complains of pain after surgery under anesthesia, call your doctor.

Weakness in the legs

If your child's anesthetic was injected into the spine in the lower back, the anesthesia is called an epidural. After such anesthesia, the child may experience weakness in the legs. It should go away in a few hours. Monitor your child closely until his legs become strong again.

How to help a child with a fever

Often, after anesthesia and surgery, children have a slight fever. It should drop to normal within about a day. Give your child plenty of water and antipyretic medications prescribed by the doctor. If your temperature remains high, contact your doctor.

If something in your child’s condition worries you, contact the doctor immediately, and do not wait until your next scheduled visit to the doctor.

Next chapter >

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Symptoms

Fever is usually accompanied by:

General malaise, drowsiness.
Trembling, chills, followed by a feeling of heat.
Decreased or lack of appetite.
Loss of body weight.
Pain in muscles, joints.
Increased skin sensitivity.

Increased blood pressure and tachycardia (increased heart rate) are classic symptoms of a temperature reaction.

In some diseases they are absent, but the opposite phenomenon may occur – bradycardia.

Infection

Infection is one of the most common causes of fever after knee surgery or other surgery. The group of common infectious complications includes:

surgical wound infection;
urinary tract infections;
respiratory system infections.

According to clinical observations, the assumption of infection is more correct the later the fever appears.

Temperature after abdominal surgery for appendicitis is observed, as a rule, with delayed intervention and the presence of peritonitis. If the lumen of the digestive, respiratory and urinary tract is opened, the wound is considered conditionally contaminated, the risk of purulent infection increases by 5–10% compared to a clean wound surface (during prosthetics, hernia repair). Open fractures and fecal peritonitis belong to the group of contaminated wounds, in which infection is observed in almost 50% of cases.

It is necessary to pay attention not only to the presence of fever.

It is important to evaluate its duration, time of occurrence, the presence of sharp drops and rises in temperature, as well as symptoms indicating the location of the lesion.

For example, if the temperature after heart surgery is combined with weakness, chills and the appearance of heart murmurs, there is reason to suspect infective endocarditis.

Phlebothrombosis

Clinical manifestations of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities:

Weakness, increased body temperature.
Swelling and pain in the limb.
Pale or bluish coloration of the skin.

Thyrotoxic crisis

One of the most likely endocrine disorders in the postoperative period is thyrotoxic crisis - a condition caused by a sharp increase in the level of thyroid hormones in the blood.

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The patient’s condition after general anesthesia, quality in a good clinic:

No pain during treatment.
No nausea or vomiting after surgery.
Absence of chills, trembling (sometimes it is impossible to do without these symptoms after surgery).
During operations, constant monitoring of breathing and blood circulation is carried out.
Monitoring of electrical activity of the brain, control of muscle conduction, temperature control.

After the operation, the patient is given anesthesia; if this is not enough, the patients inject themselves by pressing a button.

For this purpose, special devices have appeared that the patient carries with him constantly.

Doctors then monitor how many times the patient presses the button, using these calculations to determine the degree of recovery of the patient.

Thanks to this, the time after surgery passes comfortably.

Before taking general anesthesia, consider:

Your weight or body mass index.
Medical history, tests, permission from specialists for anesthesia are studied.
Patient's age.
Current medications taken and allergic reactions to them.
The patient's consumption of alcohol or drugs.
Dental examination, as well as the oral cavity and respiratory tract.

General anesthesia, what is it:

General anesthesia, a state of coma, sleep in which the patient does not feel pain. He is not in pain, there are no reactions. The man seems unconscious.

General anesthesia is administered intravenously or inhaled.

Medicines are administered by an anesthesiologist, a specialist who monitors the patient's vital signs and breathing during surgery.

There are four stages:

Induction or first stage:

Characterized by the onset of drug administration and loss of sensitivity (consciousness).

Excitation stage – second stage:

There is delusional, excited activity. Heartbeats and breathing are erratic.

Nausea and dilated pupils may occur.

There is a danger of suffocation. Modern drugs limit the time for the two stages described above.

Surgical anesthesia or third stage:

When it occurs, all muscles relax and breathing is suppressed. Eye movement slows and then stops. The patient is ready for surgery.

Overdose stage, if your anesthesia dose was calculated incorrectly:

Leads to cardiovascular and respiratory failure.

As you understand, the fourth stage is an exception to the rule, but it sometimes happens, as everywhere and always.

Why do they do general anesthesia, and not anesthesia of only the necessary area of the body?

Under what circumstances is it prescribed?

The operation takes a long time.
Risk of major blood loss.
According to the patient's well-being.

Modern surgical treatment is an absolutely safe intervention.

Immediately after anesthesia you may feel:

Difficulty passing urine.
Bruising, pain on the arm due to the IV during surgery.
Constant nausea, possible vomiting.
Trembling and feeling cold, you will shake, and at first it will be difficult to warm up.
Sore throat (due to the presence of a breathing tube during surgery).
You will not feel pain; nurses will constantly administer pain relief.

But there are groups at greater risk for consequences:

Elderly people undergoing long-term operations are at risk of serious consequences.

After anesthesia, they can suffer a heart attack, amnesia (memory loss), stroke and even pneumonia.

Of course, it’s good that now you can have surgery and recover, if not for the consequences after it. They are.

The consequences are early and appear later.

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Complications of anesthesia

Adverse events of this procedure can be divided into two groups (according to the time of their occurrence):

Occur during the procedure.
They develop at different times after the operation is completed.

During the operation:

From the respiratory system: sudden cessation of breathing, bronchospasm, laryngospasm, pathological restoration of spontaneous breathing, pulmonary edema, cessation of breathing after its restoration.
From the cardiovascular system: increased heart rate (tachycardia), slowing (bradycardia) and disturbance (arrhythmia). Fall in blood pressure.
From the nervous system: convulsions, hyperthermia (increase in body temperature), hypothermia (decrease in body temperature), vomiting, tremor (shivering), hypoxia and cerebral edema.

All complications during the procedure are monitored by an anesthesiologist and have strict algorithms for medical actions aimed at stopping them. The doctor has medications on hand to treat possible complications.

Many patients describe visions during anesthesia - hallucinations. Hallucinations make patients worry about their own mental health. There is no need to worry, since hallucinations are caused by some narcotic drugs used for general anesthesia. Hallucinations during anesthesia occur in mentally healthy people and do not recur after the drug wears off.

After the operation is completed

After general anesthesia, a number of complications develop, some of which require long-term treatment:

From the respiratory system.

Often appear after anesthesia: laryngitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis. These are the consequences of the mechanical impact of the equipment used and the inhalation of concentrated gaseous drugs. Manifested by cough, hoarseness, pain when swallowing. They usually go away within a week without consequences for the patient.

Pneumonia. A complication is possible when gastric contents enter the respiratory tract (aspiration) during vomiting. Treatment will require additional hospital stay after surgery and the use of antibacterial drugs.

From the nervous system.

Central hyperthermia– increased body temperature not associated with infection. This phenomenon may be a consequence of the body’s reaction to the administration of drugs that reduce the secretion of sweat glands, which are administered to the patient before surgery. The patient's condition returns to normal within one to two days after their action ceases.

Headache after anesthesia are a consequence of the side effects of drugs for central anesthesia, as well as complications during anesthesia (prolonged hypoxia and cerebral edema). Their duration can reach several months, they pass on their own.

Encephalopathy(impaired cognitive function of the brain). There are two reasons for its development: it is a consequence of the toxic effect of narcotic drugs and a prolonged hypoxic state of the brain as a result of complications of anesthesia. Despite the widespread belief about the frequency of development of encephalopathy, neurologists argue that it develops rarely and only in individuals with risk factors (background brain diseases, old age, previous chronic exposure to alcohol and/or drugs). Encephalopathy is a reversible phenomenon, but requires a long recovery period.

To speed up the process of restoring brain function, doctors suggest carrying out prophylaxis before the planned procedure. To prevent encephalopathy, vascular drugs are prescribed. They are selected by the doctor, taking into account the characteristics of the patient and the planned operation. You should not carry out independent prevention of encephalopathy, since many drugs can change blood clotting and also affect susceptibility to anesthesia.

Peripheral neuropathy of the extremities. It develops as a consequence of the patient being in a forced position for a long time. It manifests itself after anesthesia as paresis of the muscles of the limbs. It takes a long time and requires physical therapy and physiotherapy.

Complications of local anesthesia

Spinal and epidural anesthesia

Spinal and epidural anesthesia replaces anesthesia. These types of anesthesia are completely devoid of side effects of anesthesia, but their implementation has its own complications and consequences:

Headache and dizziness. A common side effect that appears in the first days after surgery and ends with recovery. Rarely, headaches are persistent and continue for a long time after surgery. But as a rule, such a psychosomatic condition, that is, is caused by the patient’s suspiciousness.
Paresthesia(tingling, crawling sensation on the skin of the lower extremities) and loss of sensitivity in areas of the skin of the legs and torso. It does not require treatment and goes away on its own within a few days.
Constipation. Often occur during the first three days after surgery as a consequence of anesthesia of the nerve fibers innervating the intestines. Once nerve sensitivity is restored, function is restored. In the first days, taking mild laxatives and folk remedies helps.
Neuralgia of the spinal nerves. Consequence of nerve injury during puncture. A characteristic manifestation is pain in the innervated area that persists for several months. Physical therapy and physiotherapy help speed up the process of its recovery.
Hematoma (bleeding) at the puncture site. Accompanied by pain in the damaged area, headaches and dizziness. When the hematoma resolves, there is an increase in body temperature. As a rule, the condition ends in recovery.

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Loss of strength, constant fatigue, elevated body temperature (37.2), stress Good day! I am asking you for help because I am already tired of my constant uncomfortable state. It all started a year ago, in August 2014. Then, after experiencing stress (associated with the upcoming operation on the tailbone, but it did not take place due to lack of need), my blood pressure began to rise to 180/100 and was accompanied by panic attacks and attacks of fear. Before this, I never had any problems with fear, panic, or pressure. After undergoing a bunch of different examinations, it turned out that I am completely healthy and my entire condition is associated with attacks of fear and stress. For 2 months I took a huge number of drugs (glycine, Zelenin drops, captopril, anaprilin, teraligen, sermion, phenazipam, etc.). In general, each doctor offered his own treatment, but unfortunately my condition did not improve. I even quit smoking for almost a month! And then after some time everything improved by itself and the condition returned to normal. Only occasionally did a feeling of fear appear, but it quickly passed (20-40 minutes). Almost a year passed and I was very windy, I couldn’t turn my neck or my back, and literally the next day I again had familiar syndromes - a feeling of fear and a state of stress. After seeing a doctor and undergoing a course of treatment, the pain went away. And a little later in my life there was stress related to my personal life. I took it very close to my heart (like everything that happens in my life). And for almost 4 months now I have been worried about: elevated body temperature (37. - 37.5), internal discomfort (feelings of excitement and some panic), loss of strength, mood swings, periodic dizziness. All this is further aggravated by constant thoughts about a break in my personal life. I underwent examinations in many areas: a complete blood test (general, detailed, hepatitis, HIV, blood tests, immunostatus, malaria and much more that I no longer remember), fluorography, CT of the spine, MRI of the brain with the system, MRI of the kidneys and adrenal glands , ultrasound of the abdominal organs, heart scans, thyroid scans (+ hormones), blood for tumor markers and much more. Honestly, I can’t remember everything anymore. Now I’m almost sure that my problem is in my head, or rather in my brain, which does not live calmly and measuredly. In turn, I note that physical exercise (swimming pool) and communication with friends in large groups help, but work takes a lot of time and it’s not always possible to find time for yourself. And the work, by the way, is routine and does not help to distract from your condition. I kindly ask you to help me, with advice or a recommendation, or an appointment! Because this condition really makes it difficult to lead a normal lifestyle. Thank you in advance!

The use of general anesthesia is accompanied by adverse reactions - disturbances in breathing, circulation, and functioning of the nervous system. Anesthesia during cesarean section can also cause long-term consequences - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the child. Prevention requires a full examination (with planned intervention) and consideration of possible risk factors. Read more about them in this article.

Read in this article

What is anesthesia and its consequences

Anesthesia is a human condition in which a loss of consciousness occurs, created artificially. Introduction to narcotic sleep is a necessity when performing any surgical operations; this allows you to avoid painful shock, which causes negative changes in the body, including cardiac arrest. There are three types of anesthesia used in medicine:

intramuscular injection;
intravenous injection;
inhalation

The choice of type is carried out on an individual basis and depends on the volume of surgical intervention, the general health of the patient, his age and other factors.

The consequences of anesthesia can be very different - from short-term to permanent disorders. The first include:

partial/complete memory impairment – restored literally after 3-5 days;
sleep disturbance - insomnia or, conversely, a constant desire to get enough sleep, normalizes within a week;
severe headaches, problems with vision (decreased visual acuity) and hearing - the condition stabilizes within 5-10 days.

Often appear:

muscle pain;
nausea, which may be accompanied by vomiting;
dizziness;
speech problems, general lethargy;
back pain.

Back pain may occur after epidural anesthesia.

Complications after anesthesia of a more severe nature:

disorders of the respiratory system;
problems in the functionality of the heart and vascular system;
acute renal, adrenal failure;
problems in the process of thermoregulation of the body.

Consequences of anesthesia, which are recorded extremely rarely, but do occur:

Injury to tongues, lips and teeth is diagnosed in 1 case per 45,000 anesthesia use. This “side effect” is associated with damage to the oral cavity by the breathing tube. It is recommended to visit a dentist and undergo sanitation before undergoing surgery.
Postoperative pulmonary infection - most often diagnosed after surgery on the chest organs and in patients who smoke. According to statistics, it can be successfully treated, but it lengthens the recovery period.
Damage to the eyes - the cornea is most often affected, does not lead to loss of vision, but causes a dark spot to appear in front of the eyes. The reason for this complication is incomplete closure of the eyelids during anesthesia: the eyeball dries out and is injured by the inside of the eyelid.

What does general anesthesia do?

Here is what and how general anesthesia affects:

Nervous system (central)– it is important to “turn off” the main center for the perception of pain sensitivity. If inhaled drugs are used, blood vessels dilate and oxygen consumption decreases. Intravenous drugs directly affect blood circulation - they reduce its speed by almost 2 times.
Respiratory system– in the process, the nature and quality of breathing changes: the respiratory muscles work slowly, the depth and rhythm of inhalations/exhalations changes, and the level of serotonin decreases. If anesthesia is used simultaneously with ventilation, blood flow is distributed in the vessels of the respiratory system.
The cardiovascular system– depression occurs when using any drugs, the myocardium begins to work at a slow pace. Simultaneously with the negative effect on the heart, the sympathetic-adrenal system is stimulated, which ensures rapid restoration of the functioning of the heart and blood vessels after surgery.

Common effects of anesthesia on the body

Often, patients after general anesthesia experience nausea, which can intensify with a sudden change in body position, eating or drinking water. To eliminate it, sometimes it is necessary to administer antiemetics (Cerucal, Etaperazine, Tavegil), in most cases it goes away on its own within 1 - 2 days. Calm, deep breathing with slow inhalation is recommended to relieve discomfort.

Dryness, a feeling of rawness or burning in the throat can occur immediately after waking up, some patients experience quite severe pain in the throat when swallowing or talking, and hoarseness of the voice. This consequence of anesthesia is not dangerous; in case of intense pain, soothing warm chamomile tea with a small addition of honey and rose petal jam is prescribed. Among the medications, Strepsils Intensive is indicated.

Tongue - tongue; epiglottis - epiglottis; balloon - balloon; trachea - trachea; endotracheal tube - endotracheal tube; palate - sky.

Trembling hands or severe chills are not always associated with the administration of painkillers or infusion solutions. They can also be explained by a sharp activation of sympathetic impulses in response to stress, which is surgery. Warming with a warm blanket and maintaining a comfortable air temperature in the room will help reduce tremors in the body. If there is no fever, then drug therapy is not used.

Changes in blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration are a natural reaction to suppression of the activity of the vasomotor and respiratory centers of the brain. After a period of braking, they may become unstable for some time. Therefore, all patients are advised to monitor hemodynamic parameters, control the rhythm and depth of breathing in the postoperative period.

At the same time, the likelihood of various heart rhythm disturbances increases - extrasystole, tachycardia and bradycardia. The most dangerous are:

group extrasystoles;
complete block of atrioventricular conduction;
attacks of ventricular tachycardia, which can progress to ventricular fibrillation and asystole.

They are more common in older people with concomitant disorders of myocardial excitability and conductivity, cardiomyopathy, and coronary heart disease. For treatment, antiarrhythmic drugs are prescribed, and constant ECG monitoring is required.

Effects of anesthesia on the brain

The most common neurological complications include:

headache;
dizziness;
collaptoid (fainting) state;
weakness;
disturbance of the sleep-wake rhythm;
difficulty coordinating movements (unsteadiness of gait, awkwardness during purposeful actions).

They are associated with dehydration, blood loss, impaired vascular tone, and the inhibitory effect of anesthesia drugs on brain function. As a rule, such signs disappear within 2-4 days.

A more significant impairment is postoperative cognitive dysfunction. It can appear both in the first days and 2-3 months after general anesthesia. Patients complain that it is difficult to find the right word, remember information, fatigue quickly occurs during mental stress, and it is difficult to concentrate.

Memory and learning ability may decrease by 10-20%. Symptoms may improve over time, but in some patients they worsen without drug therapy.

The causes of this complication may be cerebral ischemia due to a decrease in blood pressure during surgery, disruption of the interaction of neurons under the influence of drugs and their partial destruction. It is possible that stimulation of the immune response and inflammation during prolonged or extensive surgery, as well as insufficient pain relief, damage brain cells.

Insufficient nutrition of the brain at the cellular level, which is not quickly corrected, can provoke hallucinations, problems with attention and memory.

If the brain was injured before general anesthesia was used, then it is impossible to predict the consequences of the drugs.

For treatment the following is prescribed:

neuroprotectors – Mexidol, Nimotop;
nootropics – Glycine, Ceraxon;
metabolic stimulants – Cerebrolysin, Somazina;
antioxidants – Emoxipin, Bilobil.

To prevent memory impairment, it is necessary to minimize factors that damage brain tissue - smoking, drinking alcohol, eating fatty animal products, low or high blood pressure, increased blood sugar and cholesterol. You can train your memorization by solving crossword puzzles, reading, listening to audio books, or playing chess.

What anesthesia rarely leads to

Less common effects of general anesthesia are:

increased secretion of bronchial mucus, spasm of the bronchi and larynx, impaired ventilation of the lungs, depression or increased breathing until it stops, pneumonia, respiratory failure, shortness of breath, cough;

Pneumonia postoperative

increased secretion of saliva, transient jaundice, increased activity of liver tests, decreased motility (motor function) of the stomach and intestines;
psychomotor agitation, convulsive syndrome, drowsiness, depressive reactions, psychosis, disorientation;
disturbance of acid-base balance and electrolyte balance, decrease in protein content in the blood due to their excretion by the kidneys, fluctuations in blood sugar levels, leukocytosis, hemolysis of red blood cells;
sweating, fever;
allergic reactions - bronchospasm, urticaria, itching, anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema, chills;
renal failure;
change in consciousness – stupor, delirium, hallucinations;
decreased myocardial contractility, cardiac decompensation.

To learn how general anesthesia affects a patient’s health, watch this video:

Negative consequences for women

There is a special situation when it is necessary to use anesthesia in women - this is a caesarean section. There are several methods of general anesthesia, each of which has certain advantages and disadvantages.

The inhalation method is convenient when urgent delivery is necessary for life-saving reasons; the depth of anesthesia is easy to regulate. Inhalation of the gas mixture is usually well tolerated - circulatory disorders rarely occur in the mother and fetus. Negative characteristics include:

the risk of developing vomiting and blockage of the respiratory tract by vomit in a woman in labor;
the appearance of inflammation of the bronchi and lung tissue (more often in the presence of ether in the mixture);
The child's breathing may become weakened.

Intravenous anesthesia can damage the neurons of the fetal brain, cause instability in pressure and pulse rate, and fluctuations in respiratory activity. Therefore, it is most often replaced with spinal or epidural anesthesia. They are also not completely safe, as they provoke hypotension in the mother and oxygen starvation in the fetus.

Hypoxia in a child can manifest itself only by 2–3 years of age in the form of attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, speech development disorders, and muscle reflexes.

Pain relief during childbirth is used according to strict indications in situations where pain can cause shock. To insist on anesthesia because you are psychologically unprepared for childbirth means endangering not only your health, but also the nervous system of the unborn child. The choice of anesthetic agents and methods should be made by a specialist, taking into account all risk factors.

General anesthesia: consequences for men

In medicine, it is not customary to separate unpleasant consequences after general anesthesia by the gender of the patient, but scientists have proven that for men it can cause problems in their sexual life. It is not the sexual desire that decreases, but the potency - erectile dysfunction is diagnosed. This happens especially often in men of the older age group, when there are already signs of a natural decline in sexual activity.

After general anesthesia, problems in the endocrine system may also occur - the production of male hormones decreases. True, this is considered an exception and can be recorded during frequent surgical interventions or against the background of existing endocrine diseases.

The effect of anesthesia on the human body: consequences

The consequences for the human body after anesthesia are directly related to the effect of the drugs:

Nausea– most often observed immediately after emerging from narcotic sleep, it is short-lived, and does not require the use of medications. It may be accompanied by vomiting, but only if the preparation for the operation was carried out with violations (for example, the patient ate food immediately before the manipulation).
Pain in the throat when swallowing and talking - can be periodic or constant, lasting from 2 hours to several days. Accompanied by severe dryness in the mouth and a strong feeling of thirst.
Whole body tremors or limb tremors– lasts no more than 30 minutes and is associated with impaired conduction of nerve impulses. The problem is solved with warm clothes, a blanket - the patient simply needs to warm up.

General weakness, dizziness, faintness– associated with a decrease in blood pressure after recovery from anesthesia. If such a pathological condition persists for 2 days after surgery, then you should seek help from your doctor - there may be a dehydration factor.
Itchy skin– present throughout the body, can be strong and uncontrollable. This is how the body reacts to anesthetic drugs, but it can also be a manifestation of a powerful allergy. To avoid the development of serious complications in the form of anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema, you need to inform your doctor about the problem - you will need to undergo a short course of therapy with antihistamines.
Pain in the back and muscles– a consequence of an uncomfortable posture during the operation, they are symmetrical, and may bother you for 2-3 days during the recovery period. Most often, such consequences are observed when using the anesthetic Ditilin, which is suitable for emergency surgery without first clearing the stomach of food.

Watch this video about the dangers of anesthesia:

Anesthesia overdose: consequences in adults

Modern medicine practically eliminates the risk of anesthesia overdose, but if this happens, the consequences in adults can be the following:

Too much drug sleep– the patient begins to regain consciousness only 6-12 hours after surgery. He may be forcibly awakened, but the loss of consciousness will continue until the increased dose of anesthetic wears off.
Headache- this is how most anesthesia drugs act on the central nervous system. If after normal anesthesia the pain syndrome disappears within a few hours, then in case of an overdose it may persist for several days.
Respiratory depression– a temporary phenomenon that can provoke postoperative pneumonia.

Cases where an overdose of anesthesia led to the death of a patient have not been recorded in the last 50 years.

Consequences of frequent anesthesia

There is a myth that says - the more anesthesia a patient is given (frequent operations), the more difficult it will be for him to get out of this state, even clinical death or complete loss of memory and reason is possible.

In reality this is not
happens:

drugs act on the body in the same way with each administration;
a recovery period is observed between surgical interventions - the effects of general anesthesia are already disappearing, the systems are ready for a new “blow”;
There are patients who often undergo anesthesia for medical reasons (for example, multiple operations for extensive burns) - statistics are silent that this led to any serious consequences.

The only thing that doctors and scientists warn about is a possible disorder of the nervous system and the presence of constant back pain. This is manifested by headaches of unknown origin, unmotivated surges in blood pressure, and aching in the lower back after habitual physical activity.

Is there a harmless anesthesia?

With a good preoperative examination, the anesthesiologist has the opportunity to choose the best option for pain relief, taking into account concomitant diseases, duration of the operation, indications and contraindications for specific drugs. As a result, the risks of side effects can be minimized, and the patient receives anesthesia that causes fewer complications upon awakening.

Since any anesthesia suppresses brain functions, there can be no absolutely safe method. To put the patient into a state of artificial sleep, a drug is needed that could reduce the activity of the nervous and cardiovascular systems for a sufficiently long time to make it possible to perform the operation. Therefore, some possible consequences for the body are regarded as a kind of “payment” for getting rid of the disease.

When choosing medications for women who are indicated for cesarean section, preference is given not to intravenous administration, but to new inhalational anesthetics - isoflurane and sevoflurane. They are significantly superior in safety to the previous ones (for example, Ftorotan). Women in labor wake up within 15 - 20 minutes, and anesthesia depression in a newborn also disappears in the first minutes after birth.

Should you be afraid of anesthesia?

The operation cannot be performed without pain relief. In this case, it is important that the patient not only does not feel pain, but also does not remember what happened to him during the treatment period (amnesia). To do this, the surgeon and anesthesiologist choose the method of anesthesia. They focus on age characteristics, the presence of concomitant pathology and the volume and duration of surgical intervention.

In most patients who have undergone preoperative preparation, anesthesia does not cause significant deviations in the subsequent functioning of the heart, brain, lungs, liver and kidneys.

Modern agents are used for anesthesia, which have side effects, but they can be prevented or eliminated. It should also be taken into account that any drug therapy has its own expiration date. Almost all complications with proper pain relief can be removed after the drug is removed from the body.

Therefore, you need to choose a doctor and a medical institution that you can trust, and leave all other actions (including anesthesia) at the discretion of specialists.

How to minimize risks

When preparing for a planned operation, a full range of diagnostic studies is recommended. An ECG, chest x-ray, and abdominal ultrasound are prescribed. For a laboratory examination, it is important to undergo general blood and urine tests, a coagulogram, kidney and liver tests, and a study of blood glucose and cholesterol concentrations.

If it is possible to compare several medical institutions, then preference should be given to those that have a modern technical base, as well as a narrower specialization of doctors in the profile that is needed.

Patients need to exclude smoking, alcohol, and any fatty, spicy foods, pickled and canned foods from their diet for 10 - 15 days; the diet should consist of lean meats, fish, vegetables and whole grain cereals. They are prepared with a minimum of salt, spices, oil and cooking oil.

It is also useful to drink freshly squeezed juices from vegetables, fruits, and herbs. This diet improves the condition of the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and the functioning of the liver and kidneys. The removal of drugs for anesthesia depends on their function.

If your health allows, then every day it is recommended to walk for at least 40 minutes, light gymnastics, adherence to the regime, 8 hours of sleep at night is especially important. To improve sleep, you can drink soothing teas from valerian, lemon balm, mint, and chamomile.

Any medications should be taken only after consulting the surgeon who will perform the operation. It is also necessary to discuss drug tolerance and allergic reactions in the past with him.

General anesthesia can cause negative effects on the nervous system, blood circulation, bronchial and pulmonary function. A fairly common condition is post-anesthesia cognitive dysfunction. Cesarean section in children may have long-term consequences in the form of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The choice of anesthesia method should be made by anesthesiologists and surgeons after a comprehensive examination. Before surgery, you need a special diet and lifestyle.

Useful video

To learn about the complications that occur after general anesthesia, watch this video:

Postoperative fever is considered to be an increase in temperature above 38.5 °C, which is recorded at least 2 times during the first 24 hours after completion of the operation.

Temperature after surgery in a child or adult may be due to:

Infection.
Phlebothrombosis.
Thyrotoxic crisis.

Symptoms

Fever is usually accompanied by:

General malaise, drowsiness.
Trembling, chills, followed by a feeling of heat.
Decreased or lack of appetite.
Loss of body weight.
Pain in muscles, joints.
Increased skin sensitivity.

Increased blood pressure and tachycardia (increased heart rate) are classic symptoms of a temperature reaction.

In some diseases they are absent, but the opposite phenomenon may occur - bradycardia.

Infection

Infection is one of the most common causes of fever after knee surgery or other surgery. The group of common infectious complications includes:

surgical wound infection;
urinary tract infections;
respiratory system infections.

According to clinical observations, the assumption of infection is more correct the later the fever appears.

The likelihood of developing complications largely depends on the degree of bacterial contamination of the wound.

It is necessary to pay attention not only to the presence of fever.

It is important to evaluate its duration, time of occurrence, the presence of sharp drops and rises in temperature, as well as symptoms indicating the location of the lesion.

For example, if the temperature after heart surgery is combined with weakness, chills and the appearance of heart murmurs, there is reason to suspect infective endocarditis.

Phlebothrombosis

Clinical manifestations of deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities:

Weakness, increased body temperature.
Swelling and pain in the limb.
Pale or bluish coloration of the skin.

Thyrotoxic crisis

One of the most likely endocrine disorders in the postoperative period is thyrotoxic crisis - a condition caused by a sharp increase in the level of thyroid hormones in the blood.