What happens later at home?

After getting home, the person should rest for the remainder of the day. By the next day, the anesthesia is usually out of the system. The following day, the pain from the surgery usually causes more problems than the anesthesia. A person should not drive for at least 12 hours after the procedure. Some people may take a few days to feel that they are back to normal.

What are the potential complications after the procedure?

The most feared complication of general anesthesia is death. This occurs in roughly 1 out of every 10,000 people. It is not possible to predict who will have this type of severe reaction.

The medications used in general anesthesia can cause severe reactions. These include:

Nausea is fairly common for a few hours after the procedure. Other side effects may occur, depending on the medication used.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists recently issued a warning about the potential side effects and interactions of herbal remedies with medications used before, during, and after surgery. The group recommends that a person stop taking all herbs at least two weeks before planned surgery.

Other complications are possible, such as damage to the mouth or throat from the breathing tube. The surgery itself may also have complications.