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Common events and risks for children and young people having a general anaesthetic

This summary page shows some of the common events and risks that healthy children and young people of normal weight face when having a general anaesthetic (GA) for routine surgery (specialist operations may carry different risks).

Modern anaesthetics are very safe.

There are some common side effects which are usually not serious or long lasting. Risk will vary between individuals, and will depend on the procedure and the anaesthetic technique used.

Your anaesthetist will discuss with you the risks they believe to be most significant. You should also discuss with them anything you feel is important to you.

Very common

More than 1 in 10; the equivalent to one person in your family.

Cartoon image of a child in a green t-shirt holding their throat

Sore throat

A cartoon of a child in a yellow top looking tired and agitated

Agitation on waking from GA.- mainly ages 1-6

cartoon image of a child in a blue t-shirt looking sick with green cheeks and vomit coming from its mouth

Sickness

Cartoon image of a child in a blue t-shirt with their hand to their mouth looking anxious

Temporary changes in behaviour eg, anxiety, sleep problems, bedwetting

Common

Between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100; the equivalent to one person in a street

Cartoon Style Close Up Of sore, cracked lips

Minor lip or tongue injury

Cartoon Style Close Up Of a hand with a plaster on the back of it

Discomfort at injection site

Uncommon

Between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1,000; the equivalent to one person in a village.

Cartoon Style Close Up Of A a pair of lungs

Breathing problems; needing treatment

Cartoon Style Close Up Of a hand with a white bandage wrapped around it

Skin damage, mainly longer procedures

Rare

Between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 10,000; the equivalent to one person in a small town.

Cartoon Style Close Up Of Heart Monitor Lines

Need for Intensive Care (unplanned) 1 in 2,400 Risk is higher for children under 1 year

Cartoon Style Close Up Of a brown eye

Injury to eye eg, scratch on eye

Cartoon Style Close Up Of A tooth with a sad face on it

Damage to teeth

Very rare

1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100,000 or more; the equivalent to one person in a large town

Cartoon Style Close Up Of A Medical Cross With Allergy Written In The Middle Of The Cross

Anaphylaxis - 1 in 40,000. Severe allergic reaction to a drug

Close Up Of A Male Child In A Hospital Bed, Looking Asleep, With A Thought Bubble With A Exclamation Mark

Awareness during an anaesthetic 1 in 60,000

Cartoon Style Close Up Of A Warning Sign, Red Outline, White Centre And A Black Exclamation Mark Soft Colours, Child Friendly, With A White Background

Death as a direct result of anaesthesia 1 in 100,000 to 1 in a million

A Friendly Cartoon Style Wheelchair. Soft Colours, Child Friendly, With A White Background

Long-term disability Less than 1 in 100,000

Source: The Royal College of Anaesthetists

For more information visit: https://rcoa.ac.uk/