In general, how risky is general anesthesia?

Very low risk: In an otherwise healthy patient, general anesthesia is very safe. But just like anything, it is not without risk. Minor risks include nausea and sore throat, which are a relatively common nuisance. Major risks such as heart attack and death are extremely rare. Some very rare anesthetic reactions, such as malignant hyperthermia, tend to run in families, so discuss this with your anesthesiologist.

Very safe: In a healthy person undergoing a general anesthetic for any type of procedure the risk is dependent on the surgery, but it is extremely safe. The sicker you are to start with, the more risk there is, but even in the sickest patients can be safely anesthetized, by wll trained anesthesiologists.

Very Safe: The risk of general anesthesia (ga) is less than that of driving to the hospital to have the operation. Ga is thought to have a risk of death of one in 350, 000 cases or more. Advances in monitoring, medical training, drugs and support have greatley decreased the risk. The main concerns after ga are usually nausea and vomiting post operatively.