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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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:

Mandy2003 · 04/05/2011 22:04

My DS had grommets when he was 2 years old and I was allowed to go into the anesthetic room with him, right up till the time he went through for surgery.

It was fine except that some of the gas escaped from the mask as I was standing behind him and it hit me full in the face! It is extreme to start to lose feeling from your toes up while standing!

He was up and running around within 20 minutes after surgery, then they keep them in the playroom for a couple of hours to make sure they are OK.

janetsplanet · 04/05/2011 22:13

all 3 of mine have had them. youngest had her first at 8 weeks old for heart surgery. shes had 3 GAs in total.
DS has had one and DD1 has had 4

it is awful when they go to sleep but its safe enough

Shoulddohousework · 05/05/2011 11:08

YANBU! You have every right to be worried but only because it is your dc that it is happening to!
When you go into hospital, the anaethetist will explain the procedure and the risks to you! And with any medical procedure there are risks but they are very small but you have to be able to give informed consent. Make sure that you ask any questions that you may have.
The majority of children are usually fine and recover a lot easier than adults -However, I have found that some children benefit from having a sleep when they come back to the ward - it helps the effects wear off more! (some will be up and going within 2 minutes and demanding food/drink!) so no 2 children are the same! Vomiting is a common side effect when they first eat/drink something!
Hope all goes well!

Morloth · 05/05/2011 11:21

DS1 needed surgery when he was 3 months old to correct severe talipes.

The anaethetist explained to us that there was a slight risk in small children but that we had to weigh up that risk against the benefits of the surgery.

In DS1's case that was the ability to walk unaided, so we rolled the dice. He didn't seem effected at all. When he came too I just bunged him on the boob, he had a feed and then was back to his usual smiley self.

The hardest part is leaving them when they are going under. DS1 used to sleep with eyes open and did it this time, the doctor reaching over to close his eyes was far too much like what you see happen to dead people and I almost broke down right then (and I am a hard bitch).

It is scarey when your baby is ill, but you just have to make the best decision you can with all of the accurate information available to you.

gawdblimey · 05/05/2011 11:25

its much worse for the parents than the kids

KaraStarbuckThrace · 05/05/2011 11:29

DS(3.4) had a GA about 2 weeks ago. He was under about 25-30 mins.
He was having a procedure to clear blocked eye duct.

DH took him in to theatre along with the anaethetist (as I am heavily pregnant, it was recommended he take him rather than me). Anaethetist was lovely, DS held her hand while they walked around to the theatre! DH said he kicked a bit and he had to hold him quite tightly when they gave him the gas but he went under very quickly.

It went fine, he was wobbly and woozy for a while and also very thirsty and hungry! For a few days after he was quite tired with not much appetite. Also when we took him home he had something more to eat and then vomited everything he had eaten! But he only did it the once.

By the Saturday (he had the op on the Tuesday) he was his normal self.

I was really worried about him having the GA as well so can totally understand how you feel!

TheProvincialLady · 05/05/2011 11:34

DS2 had a hernia that needed correcting under GA aged 6m. Of course there was a risk, but there was a greater risk of his hernia strangulating and killing him (as had nearly happened with my cousin a few years before...he was very ill and had to have some of his bowel removed). Your child wouldn't be having a GA if there wasn't some other risk necessitating the operation.

mousymouse · 05/05/2011 11:44

ds had a hernia that needed replacing.
the ga was fine and he recovered quickly afterwards.
unfortunately he developed pneumonia a day later, which might be connected to the ga (breathing tube), but this is very rare.

mousymouse · 05/05/2011 11:45

oops, the hernia was repaired not replaced

MilaMae · 05/05/2011 12:34

Techno which is safer(less likely of an allergy risk) gas or needle? Dd has 2 coming up,wondering if I should aim for the needle(bribary).

kreecherlivesupstairs · 05/05/2011 12:58

MilaMae, I don't think that is a valid question TBH. How can someone answer that without meeting the individual?
Bribery works though. DD had grommets when she was 8. She was given a teddy while she was in the anaesthetic room. We still have the bloody thing two years, and a lot tattier looking later.

wheredidmyoldlifego · 05/05/2011 13:00

You are right to be concerned about your child having to need a GA.

Our DS is 6 and since the age of 3 has had 67 GAs ranging from a 7 hour surgery down to GAs for scans now which take about an hour. I am nervous and worried ever single time he goes under but he's had both gas and needle induction - and he actually quite 'likes' the gas induction as he calls it wobbly juice!

I am not sure doctors would give our children GA like this is the risk was too high. So I generally trust the doctors when they say he needs another. Doesn't stop me worrying though!!!

Good luck and hope all goes well.

MilaMae · 05/05/2011 13:36

Kreecher I'm just wondering if either are regarded as safer or less likely to make them sick.I'd heard gas is more likely to cause sickness.Surely it would be the same for any child.

janajos · 05/05/2011 16:35

My middle son had a GA for a hernia aged 2, I spent the whole of the operation time crying! He was absolutely fine.

My eldest, now 13, had one yesterday and I was with him in the preparation room. He said to me 'I'm going to fight it Mum! ' I just said 'OK, you try to fight it darling...', the anaesthetist gave him a stress ball to play with and his last words were, sleepily, 'I like your stress ball!', we were all in fits of laughter!.. It was fine, really fine. They call you when they are in recovery, so the last thing they remember is you there, and then you are there as they are coming round.

TheProvincialLady · 05/05/2011 17:17

Wheredid your son has undergone 67 GAs in 3 years? The poor lad (in terms of needing them, not necessarily in terms of having them by the sound of it). You must be a nervous wreck.

orangehead · 05/05/2011 17:29

I have had more ga's than sunday dinners. Well not quite but alot. My first one I was probably only a few months old and had loads as a kid and a few as an adult. I have never had any problems, some of the other kids on the ward with me were a bit sicky afterwards but me always bright as button straight after like nothing has happened.
I cant lie, yes there are risks but they are extremely rare and the medical staff are always very much on the ball. They wouldnt do them so rountinely on children if they were not considered safe.
I do feel your pain though, ds2 had one for investigations a couple of years ago. Despite me having no concerns about me having one, even as an adult, I was terrified when he had one and cried once he was under. Its only natural to be worried. Of course he was fine and the nursing staff were fantastic.

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