How does general anesthesia affect children?

General anesthesia is a medical procedure that uses drugs to render a patient unconscious and unable to feel during surgery or other medical procedures. It is widely used for children, especially in pediatric surgery. However, despite advances in medical technology and improved surgical safety, parents still worry about the negative effects that general anesthesia may have on their children. So, let's take a closer look at the effects of general anesthesia on children, including its safety, potential risks, and how to provide appropriate care and monitoring before and after surgery.

1. Safety of general anesthesia

The safety of general anesthesia in pediatric surgery has always attracted much attention and has been widely recognized in long-term clinical practice and scientific research. With the continuous development of modern anesthetic drugs and the advancement of monitoring technology, the application of general anesthesia in pediatric surgery has become safer and more reliable.

Before pediatric surgery, the medical team will conduct a comprehensive health assessment to ensure that your child is medically fit for general anesthesia. This assessment includes careful consideration of factors such as your child's age, weight, existing medical conditions, and past anesthesia history. Based on these assessments, the medical team will take the necessary precautions to minimize the risks that may be associated with general anesthesia.

During the operation, professional anesthesiologists and nursing staff will monitor the child's vital signs and depth of anesthesia throughout the operation. By monitoring vital signs such as heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure, the medical team can detect any abnormalities in a timely manner and take appropriate measures to make adjustments. At the same time, the use of advanced monitoring technologies such as EEG monitoring and respiratory gas analysis can more accurately assess the depth and effect of anesthesia, thereby ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the anesthesia process.

In addition, the choice of drugs during general anesthesia is also crucial. Modern anesthetics have the advantages of rapid action, short duration of effect, and fewer side effects, which can better meet the needs of pediatric surgery. The medical team will select appropriate anesthetics according to the child's specific situation and type of surgery, and strictly control the drug dosage to ensure safe anesthesia while minimizing the occurrence of adverse reactions.

2. Risks of general anesthesia

Although general anesthesia is safe in most cases, there are still some potential risks that we need to pay attention to.

First of all, the recovery process after anesthesia requires special attention. In some cases, children may experience some discomfort, such as nausea, vomiting, headache, etc. These discomforts are usually short-lived and can be relieved by proper care and medication from doctors. However, for most people, this discomfort may affect their recovery speed and quality, so these symptoms need to be closely observed and managed during the post-anesthesia monitoring process.

Second, although rare, general anesthesia can cause more serious complications. One of these is allergic reactions. Although allergic reactions are avoided as much as possible with the use of anesthetics, in rare cases, children may still have an allergic reaction to some of the ingredients. In this case, the medical team must quickly recognize and take steps to treat this reaction to ensure the safety of the child.

In addition, another potential risk is respiratory problems. General anesthesia can affect the patient's respiratory function, especially after the operation. In some cases, children may experience difficulty breathing or other breathing-related problems, which require timely monitoring and intervention. The medical team usually assesses the child's respiratory status before surgery and takes appropriate precautions, but even so, it is still necessary to pay close attention to the patient's breathing after anesthesia.

3. Care and monitoring before and after surgery

Having your child undergo surgery under general anaesthetic is a very anxious time for parents. They play a vital role before and after their child's surgery, providing ongoing care and monitoring to ensure their child is safe during surgery and recovery.

First, let's talk about the care before the operation. At this stage, parents need to relieve their children's nervousness and fear as much as possible. They can work with the medical team to understand the whole process of the operation and explain it clearly to their children. Patiently answer any questions that children may have to help them understand and accept what is about to happen. In addition, according to the doctor's advice, parents need to pay attention to their children's diet and medication. Make sure that the child stops eating on time and stops drinking water within the prescribed time so that the operation can go smoothly.

Post-operative care is also crucial. Your child may feel dizzy, nauseous, or weak after anesthesia. Parents need to provide warm support and comfort to your child after they wake up to make them feel safe and comfortable. It is also very important to make sure your child gets enough rest and nutrition. Provide easily digestible food to ensure that your child has enough energy to promote wound healing and physical recovery.

Conclusion : The use of general anesthesia in children's surgery is safe and reliable, but there are also certain risks that we need to pay attention to. Understanding the safety and potential effects of general anesthesia, as well as providing good care and monitoring before and after surgery, is crucial to ensuring the health and safety of children.

Author: An Shaojuan Yuanshi County Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital