“Does general anesthesia increase risk of DVT?”
I will have surgery under general anesthesia. Does general anesthesia increase the risk of DVT?
4 Answers
Maybe.
Yes.
There is a slight increase risk with general anesthesia of getting a DVT, but not enough of a risk that I would recommend against general anesthesia for most operations. General anesthesia is typically very safe, and other contributing factors (obesity, immobility, previous blood clots) probably contribute to a higher risk of a DVT after surgery.
The general anesthetic itself is unlikely to affect your clotting process. However, remaining immobile for many hours may put certain body regions at risk due to the lack of movement and the muscular mechanism of aiding in return venous flow through the system.
