How often do people die from anesthesia? ive read that its rare, but what does that really mean? im worried i could be one of those rare times and im not sure how to make sure im not.

Very rarely: Today anesthesia is among the safest specialties in medicine with a mortality rate directly related to the anesthesia itself approaching 1in 200, 000 anesthetics. The best way to reduce anxiety prior to surgery and anesthesia is to get to know your anesthesia doctor. In many ways he or she is the most important person in the room, because your life is in his/her hands during surgery.

1.1 per million: The anesthesia-related death rate was 1.1 per million population> anesthesia complications were the underlying cause in (10.9%) and a contributing factor in (89.1%). 46.6% of the anesthesia-related deaths were due to overdose of anesthetics; 79.7% from adverse effects of anesthetics ; 19.1% resulted from complications during pregnancy, labor, and puerperium; and 1.2% due from faulty intubation.

Guarantees: Not withstanding all the statistics, no one can guarantee you a morbidity or mortality free surgery. To improve your risk- benefits, be forth coming with all your medical history , medication use ( otc and prescribed ). In the military we train our personel how to fight and stay alive. But not even the best trained are guaranteed survival.

Anesthesia is very: Safe. For those people with significant medical issues, steps can be taken to minimize the risk created by those problems. Make sure you have a complete history and physical with your anesthesiologist and bring up TUR concerns. He should be able to reassure you.

I in 350,000 cases: It is not normal to ask someone to put you to sleep while another works on you. The risks are minimal, in fact i tell my patients that they are more likely to have problems driving to the hospital to have the surgeon. Talk to your anesthesiologist before the operation and they can give you medications to relieve you anxiety.