How risky is anesthesia?
In general, the risk of serious injury or death during anesthesia is about the same as the risk when going for a car ride. Because you are in a car almost every day, you may not consider driving particularly risky. However, you probably rarely undergo an anesthetic so you may find yourself anxious before surgery. Remember that it is extremely unusual for healthy patients to have serious complications from anesthesia. However, a number of health problems may increase the risk of complications such as smoking, lung disease, heart disease, kidney failure, diabetes, and obesity. If you have any of these health problems, be sure to discuss them with your anesthesiologist.
