A 36-year-old member asked:
Do people urinate or lose bowel control when under general anesthetic?
3 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
Dr. Karen Sibertanswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Occasionally: Often, a bladder catheter (foley) is placed during major surgery to drain and monitor urine output. If sphincter control of bladder and bowel are normal preop, then it is unlikely that there will be any incontinence. Occasionally, when coming out of anesthesia, there can be some loss of bladder or bowel control. This is not a problem in any way, and control returns to normal very quickly.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
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Dr. Mitchell Zeitleranswered
Anesthesiology 41 years experience
Mainly no: Most people will not lose control of bladder or bowel during or after general anesthesia.
If someone did have poor control, also known as incontinence, then its possible that could happen during of after the surgery.
Many times a Foley (a catheter placed into the bladder) is performed to empty the bladder during the operation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Orrin Ailloni-Charasanswered
Anesthesiology 31 years experience
Not usually: For longer surgeries, a bladder catheter may be placed to decompress the bladder.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Oct 1, 2018
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