Is Anesthesia Safe? Myths vs. Facts You Should Know

Despite its routine use in modern medicine, anesthesia often carries an aura of mystery and apprehension. From fears of not waking up to concerns about long-term effects, misconceptions abound. 

In this blog, we aim to demystify anesthesia by addressing common myths and presenting the facts, ensuring you're well-informed and at ease before your next medical procedure.

Types of Anesthesia

Anesthesia uses drugs called anesthetics to keep you from feeling pain during medical procedures. Local and regional anesthesia numbs a specific area of your body. General anesthesia makes you temporarily unconscious (fall asleep) so you can have more invasive surgeries. 

The anesthesia your healthcare provider uses depends on the type and scope of the procedure. Options include:

• Local anesthesia: This numbs a small section of your body. Providers commonly use local anesthesia for minimally invasive procedures like cataract surgery or skin biopsy. You’re awake during the procedure.

• Sedation: Also called “twilight sleep,” sedation relaxes you to the point where you’ll nap but can wake up if needed to communicate. Examples of procedures often performed with sedation include wisdom teeth removal, cardiac catheterization and some colonoscopies. Although you won’t be completely unconscious, you’re not as likely to remember the procedure.

• Regional anesthesia: Regional anesthesia blocks pain in a larger part of your body, like a limb or everything below your chest. Examples include an epidural to ease the pain of childbirth or an arm block for hand surgery. Providers might administer regional anesthesia in addition to sedation, or they may administer it by itself.

• General anesthesia: This treatment makes you unconscious and insensitive to pain or other stimuli. Providers use general anesthesia for more invasive procedures or surgeries of your head, chest or abdomen.

General anesthesia usually uses a combination of medicines given through a vein and inhaled gases.

You'll feel as though you're asleep. But general anesthesia does more than put you to sleep. You don't feel pain when you're under general anesthesia. This is because your brain doesn't respond to pain signals or reflexes.

Are there any risks associated with Anaesthesia ?

General anesthesia is safe. Most people don't have complications from general anesthesia. This is true even for people with serious health conditions.

Your risk of complications is more closely related to the type of procedure you're having and your general physical health.

Older adults or those with serious medical problems are at increased risk of confusion after surgery. They're also at higher risk of pneumonia, stroke or a heart attack after surgery. This is particularly true if they're having more-extensive procedures.

Conditions that can increase the risk of complications during surgery include:

• Smoking.

• Sleep apnea.

• Obesity.

• High blood pressure.

• Diabetes.

• Stroke.

• Seizures.

• Other medical conditions involving the heart, lungs, kidneys or liver.

• Medicines that can increase bleeding.

• Heavy alcohol or drug use.

• Allergies to medicines.

• Previous adverse reactions to anesthesia.

Myths Vs Facts 

Myth 1 : Anesthesia Will Wear Off Too Soon

Fact : One of the more common fears is that the anesthesia will stop working at some point during the procedure, and you’ll start feeling pain. But the way anesthesia works is that it is constantly applied, via inhalation or intravenously. You’ll be awakened when the anesthesiologist shuts off the flow of drugs at the end of the surgery. There are rare cases – called anesthesia awareness – in which patients can recall their surroundings or feelings of pressure or pain during the procedure.

 

Myth 2: You Might Die During Surgery

Fact : Every surgery carries some element of risk. But in most cases, this is related to a patient’s overall health, rather than the anesthesia. Patients in a fragile state – consider the case of someone undergoing trauma surgery following a major accident – face much greater risks than those created by anesthesia.
General anesthesia does affect your vital signs. So, if you are in poor condition, your body may not be able to handle wide swings in your vital signs. But it is extremely rare for the anesthesia to be the cause of death or other serious complication. 

 

Myth 3: You Might Reveal Something Personal

Fact : Another fear is that you’ll start blabbing personal secrets to your doctors and nurses. The reality is that patients don’t tend to say much that’s all that exciting after the drugs hit. It’s far more likely you’ll feel confused or start laughing rather than reveal earth-shattering secrets. 

 

Myth 4: Local Anesthesia Isn’t as Risky

Fact : There is always some risk, however small. But there’s no reason to think general anesthesia is any more dangerous than local anesthesia. The key is making sure the anesthesia application matches the patient and the procedure.
Trouble can occur, for example, if local anesthesia is used for a surgery better suited for general anesthesia. This sometimes happens when a patient insists on local anesthesia. This could turn into a dangerous situation if the patient is getting an inadequate level of anesthesia for the procedure.
There also are situations where patients are too fragile for general anesthesia. In those cases, doctors will try to minimize the anesthesia.

 

Myth 5: Tolerating Pain Will Help You Heal Fast

Fact :The idea that pain is a necessary part of healing pops up from time to time in various medical situations. But research shows that patients experience multiple benefits from the pain reduction provided by anesthesia.
Nerve blocks that reduce surgical pain can significantly reduce the need for potentially addictive narcotics. With less pain, patients can start rehab faster. And if they feel comfortable, they’re more likely to follow their surgeon’s instructions.

Myth 6: Anesthesiologists will not stay in the operating room during surgery as soon as the patient goes off sleep.

Fact: Rest assured that a memberof the anesthesia care team will be at your side 100% of the time. This could be the physician or an advanced practice provider.

Myth 7: Spinal / epidural anaesthesia causes back pain. 

Fact:  Many studies have concluded that there is no evidence to support this. For the fear of backache, many pregnant patients refuse spinal anaesthesia. As a matter of fact, spinal anaesthesia is the safest option for your child at the time of cesarean section if there is no contraindication.

Myth 8:  The risk of anaesthesia is less, if it is a minor surgery. 

Fact: Surgery is only one factor determining the outcome of anaesthesia. Another important factor being patients comorbidity. For example - a patient with very poor cardiac functions undergoing biopsy is a high risk procedure.

Myth 9 : Anesthesiologists are just technicians

Fact: Non-medical people believe that anesthesiologists are not doctors but just operators or paramedics. This is a common and ambiguous statement as they are extensively trained medical experts. For an Anesthesiologist, to begin his career as Anesthesiologist, he/she must complete a basic five-year degree in medicine, 2-3 years of post-graduation in the department of anesthesia and an internship like other department physicians. So, they are not just technicians but successfully and perfectly trained medical specialists.

Myth 10: Older adults or people with certain health conditions can’t have anesthesia.

Fact: While older adults or those with underlying conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, may require more individualized care, they can absolutely receive anesthesia safely; anesthesiologists will adjust the type and dose of anesthesia to fit your unique needs. 

Myth 11: Anesthesia always causes severe side effects, like nausea or memory loss.

Fact: While it’s true that some people experience mild side effects, such as nausea or grogginess, after anesthesia, severe side effects are uncommon. Memory loss, particularly long-term, is very rare and typically occurs only in older patients after prolonged surgeries. Depending on factors like your medical history, age, and the type of procedure, different types of anesthesia can be chosen to minimize these side effects. For example, regional anesthesia is known to reduce the risk of delirium in older patients. If you have concerns, discuss all available anesthesia options with your anesthesiologist to find the best approach for you. 

Myth 12: You can eat or drink before surgery if it’s just a little bit.

Fact: It’s very important to follow the fasting instructions provided by your medical team before anesthesia. Even consuming a small amount of food or drink can increase the risk of complications during anesthesia, such as aspiration (inhaling food or liquid into your lungs). Typically, you’ll be advised to stop eating and drinking a certain number of hours before surgery, depending on the type of anesthesia you’ll be receiving. This precaution is for your safety, and failing to follow it could lead to delays or rescheduling of your procedure.

Myth 13: If you have allergies, you can’t have anesthesia.

Fact: Having allergies doesn’t automatically mean you can’t safely receive anesthesia. However, it is important to inform your anesthesiologist about all allergies you have, whether they’re related to medications, foods, or environmental factors. Anesthesiologists can adjust the medications used and take extra precautions to avoid any allergic reactions. In most cases, allergies do not pose a major barrier to receiving anesthesia, but it’s critical to communicate your full medical history to your healthcare team.

Myth 14: Children can’t safely receive anesthesia.

Fact: Children can safely undergo anesthesia when it is administered by a trained pediatric anesthesiologist. Pediatric anesthesiologists are specifically trained to tailor the type and dosage of anesthesia to suit a child’s unique physiology. Safety is always the top priority, and anesthesia techniques for children have advanced significantly, making it a routine and safe part of many pediatric surgeries. Parents are often more anxious than necessary, but the risk of complications remains low when proper procedures are followed.

Myth 15 : Anesthesia is always administered through injections.

Fact: While injections are a common method of administering anesthesia, it can also be delivered through inhalation or intravenous (IV) methods, depending on the type of anesthesia and the procedure.

 

Why Choose Believers Church Medical College Hospital for Anaesthesia Care?

At Believers Church Medical College Hospital (BCMCH), we prioritize patient safety and comfort throughout the surgical journey. Our Department of Anaesthesiology comprises highly trained professionals specializing in regional blocks, difficult airway management, interventional pain, and intensive care. Many faculty members have received training from premier medical centers in India and abroad, ensuring top-tier care.

We adhere to the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol for complex procedures, promoting faster recovery and reducing complications. Our expertise in regional anaesthesia allows us to safely manage patients with complex comorbidities who might otherwise be considered unfit for surgery.

Our facilities include a fully equipped preoperative bay for patient preparation and a spacious post-operative anaesthesia care unit for continuous monitoring until discharge criteria are met. For patients undergoing prolonged surgeries, our expert pain interventionalists manage post-operative pain through regional blocks and specific pain infusions.

We are among the few hospitals in South India equipped with an MRI-compatible anaesthesia workstation, enabling safe anaesthesia during MRI scans for all patients, including infants and children.

Our interventional pain services, available during working hours on weekdays, focus on relieving chronic and intractable pain, helping patients return to their routine activities with improved quality of life.

From comprehensive pre-anaesthesia evaluations to personalized anaesthesia plans and attentive post-surgery care, our commitment is to ensure your well-being and comfort at every step.