What reason would make a person unfit for a general anaesthetic?

Question

What illness would a doctor refuse a general aenaesthic for?

I have heard that the flu?? Or would a temperature cancel an operation?
What if it was just cold sniffles?

Answer 1

When my daughter was in having surgery to put tubes in her ears, while I was waiting out in the waiting room area, I witnessed this exchange.

An elderly lady was sitting with her companion when a man in surgical scrubs, who identified himself as Dr. so-and-so, the anesthesiologist, came out to talk to her. He asked the lady if she was there for elective cataract surgery. She said she was.

He started asking her questions, refering to a questionaire she had apparently filled out.

Did she have high blood pressure? Yes, she did, something like 155/100.

Did she have diabetes? Yes, Type II diabetes, and she was having a lot of trouble keeping her blood sugar below 200.

Did she have lung trouble? Oh, yes, she had emphysema. And she smoked.

Did she have any trouble with her heart? Well, yes, she had had a heart attack two years ago and was taking something for it.

And on and on it went. In the end the anesthesiologist told her it was just too risky to go forward with the surgery, and that he would not act as her anethesiologist.

It's been my experience that a cold or sniffles won't usually cause an anesthesiologist to balk at doing surgery (I had surgery when I had a cold), but a lot depends on the total physical condition of the patient and the importance of the surgery. If the patient is borderline for the surgery to start with, and the surgery is elective, the anesthesiologist might prefer to to postpone. If the patient is otherwise a good risk and the surgery is important, then the anesthesiologist will probably go ahead with it.

Answer 2

.the problem with general anaesthetics is that you are putting a different gas into the lungs other than oxygen. What concerns the anaesthetist is if the capacity of your lungs in is some way compromised before they start. there is always a risk even with a lungs in top condition so they are concerned that your ability to breath before they start not so bad that it would be unacceptably dangerous to continue. Any condition which affects the lungs has to be considered. If it is only a slightly higher risk but the condition is likely to clear up in a couple of days then they may well wait until it has

Answer 3

Any type of infection, be it Viral or Bacterial would effect the decision of the Surgeon and Anaesthetist. If the infection is in the lungs it tends to cause more concern, but is not a definite No,No!
Other considerations can be Weight and Alcohol consumption. Both of these can effect reaction to anaesthetic and recovery as well as the chances of a Bleed during surgery.

Answer 4

I think the main reason I have heard is the heart. If the person has had problem with their heart no way. I know a temperature will stop this and maybe even the flu.

Answer 5

The doctor would most likely chose not to use a general in cases were the patients air way could be compromised or incases where the patient needs to be aware to help with the procedure,

Answer 6

It is usally based on the extremes on age, whether the patient is too young or too old.
A patient has to be fit, he should have a stable blood pressure, not suffer from compromising heart or chest conditons and not have any known allergies to the associated drugs.
They usually ascess the patients during the routine check ups before they operate.

Answer 7

A variety of viruses can prevent general anesthesia. Drinking alcohol is high risk too.

Answer 8

Yeah that can cause some delays in your recovery process after post operating procedures.

Answer 9

if you're under the weather in any way they'll send you home, even if it's just a common cold. Better to phone beforehand so they can reschedule it.