Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder how safe general anasthetics are for children?

41 replies

jinglebelly · 03/05/2011 21:38

DD needs to have an examination under general anasthetic, the doctor says she will only be asleep for 5 minutes but I am still extremely worried!!!

OP posts:
xstitch · 03/05/2011 21:40

Its sacrey when your lo aren't well. They wouldn't use it unless they needed to. How old is dd?

Is there anything in particular that concerns you about the procedure. If so you should note them down and speak with the medical staff when you go. Is there going to be someone who can wait with you so you are not waiting on your own?

igggi · 03/05/2011 21:43

I had ga when I was 5,6 and 7 (dodgy ears). No problems at all.
These days I worry when going under anaesthetic, but I never did then!

Gemsy83 · 03/05/2011 21:45

These days anaesthetics are very safe, very light more like sedatives.

IDontThinkSoDoYOU · 03/05/2011 21:45

Yes they are perfectly safe. YABU for thinking otherwise. YANBU for worrying about it. Of course you will worry.

My DS has had one, I was in pieces although didn't show it as I helped put him under using the gas and air mask.

It took me some time to recover from the shock of it, longer than it took him to recover from the op!

It was my first time though in my defence and if necessary, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again and I'd be much better.

Of course you'll worry, that's normal xx

jinglebelly · 03/05/2011 21:45

I've just heard anasthetic are not as safe as people think, especially for kids

OP posts:
BarbarianMum · 03/05/2011 21:56
xstitch · 03/05/2011 21:57

Every medication has a risk of side effects, it would be silly to deny that. Anaesthetics are a lot safer than they were when first invented and that was a long time ago now.

The person giving the anaesthetic will be highly trained and trained in trating children.

YANBU to worry it is only natural. That's what us parents do. Hope your dd is better soon.

MumInBeds · 03/05/2011 22:01

Have you just been watching the dentist on Fast food babies? He was over emphasising the risk as a scare tactic to parents who have a chance to change behaviour to avoid the need for surgery (and removing 6 teeth and treating an abscess takes much longer than 5 minutes).

mummytopebs · 03/05/2011 22:05

My dd had one 2 weeks ago for a scan, was asleep for 30 mins, I was really scared but she was absolutly fine and was discharged 2 hours after waking up, eating within 15 mins of waking up. She is having another next week and I am worried again but know what to expect this time.

QuintessentialPains · 03/05/2011 22:06

My son has had GA twice. On both occasions he was "off" for months after. Forgetful and absent minded. The doc said this could be a perfectly normal side effect to GA in young children, and nothing to worry about, it would pass.

gasman · 03/05/2011 22:07

Loads of info here:

www.rcoa.ac.uk/index.asp?pageid=69

Generally speaking general anaesthesia in the UK is pretty safe. A well child undergoing 'routine' general anaesthesia apparently has a 1:100 000 risk of dying (from the RCOA "risk of dying" leaflet)

Apparently the average person in the UK has a 1:20 000 risk each year of dying in a road traffic accident (this comes from Bandolier).

Hope this helps.

A1980 · 03/05/2011 22:18

I had a GA when I was 7 years old.

Alive and kicking.....!

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 03/05/2011 22:25

Both DS1 and DS2 have had GAs (DS1 at 11mths, DS2 at 4yo) and had no problems or side effects. Wasn't fun for me to watch them go under I have to say, but they have no memories of it happening at all.

rasta · 03/05/2011 22:31

Both DDs have had more anesthetics that they've had cooked dinners (sadly). They are safe and controlled and your DD will be closely monitored throughout and after.

babybarrister · 03/05/2011 22:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wherearemysocks · 03/05/2011 22:35

DD1 had a ga when she was 3, we didn't have much time to think about it as she needed surgery after a minor accident. The worst thing was the nurse who put in the canula wasn't very good and it took her a while, so make sure that you ask for an experienced nurse to do that. They let us go down to just outside the theatre with her so she wasn't too scared, but it was pretty horible when they actually administer it as she really fought it. But it only took a few seconds, and apart from being drowsy she was absolutely fine after.

bubblecoral · 03/05/2011 22:37

It's understandable that you are scared, I know I would be terrified.

Stay away from googling horror stories! Rule number 1!

Also try to remember that anesthetists have to train for years to do what they do. They know what they are doing. Thousands of children have GA's every day, and I can't think of any stories that would without a doubt make it to the news if something went wrong because an anesthetist screwed up. Anesthetists monitor patients continuously throughout the operation, they are there to do nothing else except make sure the anesthetic is safe.

It is very hard to trust someone else with your child in that way, so you just have to fill your head with positive thoughts. Presumably the operation will do some good. Try and focus on the positive outcome.

simpson · 03/05/2011 22:40

DS (now 5) had a GA last summer for grommets and was fine, no side effects at all and was running around full of beans within a couple of hours.

Does not stop me worrying about DD (3) though who may have to have a GA in the next few months for a gut biopsy Sad

pozzled · 03/05/2011 22:43

DD had GA at 15 months and I was pretty scared about it to be honest, but she was absolutely fine afterwards. She was only allowed one parent with her when they put her under and I asked my DH to stay with her- I'm glad we did it that way as he said she fought it and I'm sure he was able to stay much calmer than I would have been. I think that's probably the worse part.

starfishmummy · 03/05/2011 22:44

Agree with Rasta - DS had his first at 10 days old and many many more since then.
The anesthetist will do an examination to make sure your child hasnt got a chest infection or anything and talk it all through with you beforehand.

hanaka88 · 04/05/2011 05:24

DS had general for an MRI recently... I googled myself into a frenzy and cried the whole time he was under worrying sick, even had a nightmare he didn't wake up.

He came round screaming for his dinner :) he was fine, but then if he has to go under again I'm sure I would repeat the process of google/ worrying

TechnoKitten · 04/05/2011 09:07

Ok. The relative risk depends on the underlying health of the child and the age.

What I tell all parents of my paediatric patients is that anaesthetics are inherently safe for children who are otherwise fit and well (normal pregnancy, not too prem at birth, appropriate milestones for age, no serious heart/kidney/lung disease [mild asthma is fine], non smoking parents). For these children, the risks they can face are : sore throat on waking, post op sickness, dental damage (if getting into the mouth is tricky - it isn't normally) and rarely, a reaction to the meds (1:10000 - 1:20000).

For an EUA, the chance of needing the medicine with the allergy risk is very low. The anaesthetic will be very short because the procedure normally is. The IV can be inserted asleep (if one is needed - we don't always use them, again depending on age of child. I do with nearly all cases.)

Depending on the age of the child and how well they go off to sleep, they wake up grumpy and cross - normally resolved with a drink.

Kids with underlying medical problems obviously are slightly more tricky depending on their medical history. Those who have parents that smoke are more likely to cough on waking (in the same way that smokers are more likely to cough on waking).

Anaesthetics are not "lighter" than they used to be. The drugs have evolved over the years to be shorter acting and the monitoring is far better. They are certainly nothing like sedation (which requires verbal contact to be maintained throughout the procedure).

You're not unreasonable to worry - I would if it were my child! I am sure it will all be ok though.

foreverondiet · 04/05/2011 09:20

Its about risk and benefit. DS1 had a GA when he was 3.5 as he had an operation. We had to balance the risk of the operation & the GA vs the benefits and it was worth pursuing.

He woke up and vomitted several times, but was otherwise ok.

Northeastgirl · 04/05/2011 21:28

My daughter had plastic surgery aged 6 months. Carrying her into theatre was quite distressing for me (not for her!), but the GA was absolutely fine.

Apparently if they get a bit nervous and gulp air in, then this is actually good because it means the anaesthetic takes effect more quickly. I thought it was reassuring to know that.

NoWittyName · 04/05/2011 21:44

Very scary for you but try not to worry. (so much easier to say than do) Try to think of any questions beforehand and make sure you get answers that satisfy you.

My daughter had her first GA at 3 weeks and had approximately one a week for the rest of her 15 month life. Thankfully she came out of all of them absolutely fine.

I hope it goes well for her and for you!

Swipe left for the next trending thread