Although anesthesia-related injuries are quite rare, there still are some slight risks involved. However, with a few tips, New York patients who are facing surgery can feel confident.

One important thing patients may wish to do is to find out if they really need anesthesia. In many cases, their physician or anesthesiologist can offer them alternatives that may work just as effectively, such as a spinal or local anesthetic. Further, it can be helpful for patients to be aware of any family relations who have experienced a negative reaction to anesthesia and to inform their physician. While it rarely occurs, some individuals have inherited a genetic vulnerability to anesthesia treatments, causing their bodies to react in a dangerous way, such as a sudden rise in their blood pressure.

Patients who have family members who have had negative reactions to anesthesia should not only inform their physicians but also any medical personnel working at the hospital or medical center where they will be treated. This includes the surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurses. It is also important for those anticipating anesthesia to carefully follow their physician's instructions prior to the treatment, particularly about eating the night before the surgery. A patient whose stomach is full of food is vulnerable to vomiting after receiving anesthesia. If this occurs, it could lead to possible aspiration pneumonia or worse, a choking incident which could prove fatal.

Health care professionals usually do their best, but at times mistakes are made. Patients who have been injured in a surgical procedure through a misapplication of anesthesia may want to meet with a medical malpractice attorney to see if any recourse is available.

Source: Web MD, "The Risks of Anesthesia and How to Prevent Them", June 22, 2016

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