“Is it risky for children to go under anesthesia?”
My daughter is 8 years old and has to have her tonsils removed. I am nervous about her going under anesthesia, and wondering if it is safe?
7 Answers
Anesthesia always has risks just as flying on an airplane has risks. Nevertheless, if your child is healthy, he/she should do well.
Anesthesia has never been safer than it is at this point in history! Everything has risk but it is generally low. I wouldn’t let the risk of anesthesia keep me from going forward with surgery.
Short answer is yes. Kids go through anesthesia all the time, and for tonsils, it's quite a short procedure and the amount of anesthetics is quite small.
Children have fewer of the conditions that make anesthesia risk greater such as heart and lung disease. Tonsillectomy is a common procedure performed successfully across the country every day. Anesthesiologists are accustomed to this procedure and take precautions to minimize risk during and after tonsillectomy.
Less risk than getting in your car every day
It is always a risk to undergo any procedure, however with the monitors and medications that are utilized during anesthesia, the safety profile is so much better than before. It is important as her parent to make sure you answer all of the questions the anesthesiologist has regarding past medical history, allergies, any untoward anesthesia event in the family. It is also important that you monitor your child the night before and the next day of the procedure for eating or drinking anything, if she did, report that to the anesthesiologist. I would also recommend that your child not undergo anesthesia for an elective procedure if she has an upper respiratory infection.
If your child does not have any severe medical issues such as congenital heart disease or poorly controlled asthma, then anesthesia for tonsillectomy is quite safe.
