Anaesthetic complications: causes, risks and financial protection
Anaesthetic complications are adverse events associated with anaesthesia – usually mild, such as nausea or feeling cold; serious cases have become rare.
Anaesthetic complications
Anaesthetic complications are defined as adverse events associated with anaesthesia. Most are mild and temporary, such as nausea, a sore throat or feeling cold. Serious complications, such as allergic reactions, respiratory problems or cardiovascular disorders, have become rare thanks to modern monitoring.
Table of Contents
Important note
This article is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for a medical diagnosis or advice. If you are unsure, or if you require a personalised treatment plan, it is essential that you consult a qualified specialist.
What are anaesthetic complications?
- Anaesthetic complications are adverse events occurring during anaesthesia
- Synonyms: anaesthetic complications, anaesthetic risks, anaesthetic incidents
- The spectrum ranges from mild side effects to rare, serious incidents
- Modern monitoring has made serious complications very rare
Any form of anaesthesia has a profound effect on bodily functions: it suppresses consciousness and pain and affects breathing and circulation. Anaesthetic complications These are adverse reactions that may occur during the procedure. The vast majority are mild, temporary and easily managed. Serious complications are rare, thanks to standardised procedures, continuous monitoring and experienced anaesthesia teams.
Anaesthesia in Germany is considered to be very safe. A specialist in anaesthesiology monitors breathing, circulation and the depth of anaesthesia throughout the entire procedure. The foundation of any safe anaesthesia is the pre-operative consultation, during which pre-existing conditions, allergies and medication are recorded. The guide explains which procedure is suitable for General anaesthesia, twilight sleep or local anaesthesia.
Common side effects of anaesthesia
Most reactions following anaesthesia are mild and subside of their own accord within a matter of hours or days. They are unpleasant, but not dangerous.
Nausea & Vomiting
Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) affects around 20–30 % of patients. It responds well to medication and usually resolves quickly.
Sore throat & hoarseness
Side effects caused by the breathing tube during general anaesthesia. These usually subside after a few days.
Feeling cold & shivering
Getting cold during the operation leads to shivering after waking up. Warmth helps to alleviate this.
Fatigue & Drowsiness
The after-effects of the anaesthetic. Driving and making important decisions are off-limits on the day of the operation.
Other common, harmless side effects include a dry mouth, temporary difficulty concentrating or memory problems, and aching muscles. Post-operative nausea can be significantly reduced with preventative medication.
Rare, serious anaesthetic complications
Serious anaesthetic complications are rare, but they require immediate action. This is precisely what the anaesthesia team is prepared for and trained to deal with.
| Complication | What happens | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Allergic reaction / anaphylaxis | An excessive immune reaction to a medicine | Rare |
| Respiratory problems | Spasms of the larynx or bronchi, difficulty breathing | Rare |
| Aspiration | Passage of stomach contents into the lungs | Rare, particularly when one is not sober |
| Cardiovascular disorders | Drop in blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia | Usually manageable |
| Malignant hyperthermia | A rare, hereditary metabolic disorder | Very rare |
| Awareness | Waking up unintentionally during the operation | Very rare |
Other rare complications include damage to teeth or soft tissues during the insertion of the endotracheal tube, temporary nerve irritation caused by the patient’s positioning, and a prolonged after-effect of the anaesthetic (anaesthetic carry-over). If there is a known family history of malignant hyperthermia or known allergies to anaesthetics, the anaesthetist must be informed before the procedure.
Important: A thorough pre-operative consultation is the best form of protection. Any pre-existing medical conditions, allergies, previous problems with anaesthesia and all medicines you are taking must be disclosed to the anaesthesia team.
Risk factors for anaesthetic complications
Risk factors
- Cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure or coronary heart disease
- Severe lung conditions, asthma or sleep apnoea
- Severe overweight (obesity)
- Smoking and regular alcohol consumption
- Known allergies, particularly to medicines
- Advanced age and multiple comorbidities
- Failure to observe the fasting requirement prior to anaesthesia
The individual risk depends on the patient’s state of health, the type and duration of the procedure, and the anaesthetic method chosen. The anaesthetist assesses these factors before the procedure and adapts the approach accordingly. A well-prepared, healthy patient is at very low risk.
Prevention of anaesthetic complications
- Information session Full details of any pre-existing conditions, allergies and medication.
- Sobriety Avoid solid food for several hours beforehand; clear liquids should be avoided for around two hours beforehand.
- Adjusting medication Adjust the dosage of blood thinners and other medicines only on the advice of a doctor.
- Giving up smoking If possible, a few weeks before the procedure; this improves breathing and aids recovery.
- Monitoring Continuous monitoring of respiration, circulation and depth of anaesthesia during surgery.
These measures are interlinked. The patient’s most important contribution is to be honest during the pre-operative consultation and to strictly adhere to the fasting and medication instructions. The experienced anaesthesia team takes care of everything else, following standardised safety procedures.
Costs and financial protection in the event of anaesthetic complications
- Extended monitoring in the recovery room or on the intensive care unit
- Additional medicines and treatments
- Extended hospital stay in cases of more severe illness
- Treatment of consequential damage in rare cases
If a complication arising from anaesthesia results in additional treatment, costs are incurred. Following a medically necessary procedure, these costs are covered by statutory health insurance. In the case of cosmetic surgery, which is paid for privately, statutory health insurance providers generally refuse to cover any resulting costs.
One Consequential Costs Insurance fills this gap: it covers medically necessary follow-up treatment following complications arising from cosmetic surgery – including those related to anaesthesia – whilst allowing you to choose your own doctor in the event of a claim.
Note: Insurance cover for consequential costs must be taken out before the procedure – with 4beauty online, this can be done up to 24 hours before the operation. It is not possible to take out cover retrospectively once a complication has already arisen.
Further information on covered procedures can be found on the Overview page on treatments and procedures as well as in the Frequently Asked Questions.
Frequently asked questions about anaesthetic complications
Modern anaesthesia is considered to be very safe. Thanks to standardised procedures, continuous monitoring and experienced anaesthesia teams, serious complications have become rare. The individual risk depends on the patient’s state of health, the type of procedure and the anaesthetic technique, and is carefully assessed before the operation.
The most common, usually harmless side effects include nausea and vomiting (PONV), a sore throat and hoarseness caused by the ventilator tube, feeling cold and shivering, as well as tiredness and drowsiness. These symptoms usually subside on their own within a matter of hours or days.
Malignant hyperthermia is a very rare, hereditary metabolic disorder that can be triggered by certain anaesthetics. As it tends to run in families, it is important to inform the anaesthetist of any such cases in the family before the procedure so that appropriate medication can be selected.
It is vital to provide complete and honest information during the pre-operative consultation regarding any pre-existing conditions, allergies and medication, and to strictly adhere to the requirement to fast. Giving up smoking a few weeks before the operation and making appropriate adjustments to medication, such as blood thinners, further reduce the risk.
In the case of purely cosmetic procedures, statutory health insurance does not usually cover the associated costs, as the procedure was not medically necessary. Any additional treatment and hospitalisation costs must then be paid for privately – unless there is a Consequential Costs Insurance, which covers medically necessary follow-up treatment.
Sources
- German Society for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI): Information and guidelines on anaesthesia and patient safety
- Association of Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF): Guidelines on perioperative care
- Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG): Patient information on anaesthesia and surgery