17 April 2025 : Review article
A Review of Non-Cardiac Complications of General Anesthesia: The Current State of Knowledge
Paweł Radkowski
ABCDEFG 1,2,3, Hubert Oniszczuk ABCDEF 4*, Justyna Opolska CDEF 1, Mateusz Pawluczuk CDE 4, Milena Samiec EFG 1,2, Marcin Mieszkowski EFG 1,2
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.947561
Med Sci Monit 2025; 31:e947561
Introduction
Complications from the Respiratory System
Bronchospasm
Laryngospasm
Postoperative Pulmonary Complications (PPC)
Mechanical Ventilation Strategy
Adequate Selection of General Anesthesia Technique
Intraoperative Hypoxaemia
Novel Methods in Predicting Intraoperative Hypoxemia
Atelectasis and the Occurrence of Intraoperative Hypoxemia
Complications Associated with Instrumented Airway Management – Endotracheal Intubation
Mechanical Damage and Complications
Non-Injury Complications
Complications of Supraglottic Methods
The Acronym DOPES as a Useful Tool in Daily Practice
Other Complications Related to Anesthesia
Anaphylactic Reaction
Neurological Complications
Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV)
Accidental Awareness During General Anesthesia (AAGA)
Hypothermia
Malignant Hyperthermia (MH)
Conclusions
Future Directions
References
Table 1 DOPES – Factors deteriorating the condition of an intubated and mechnically ventilated patient.
| isplacement | Endotracheal tube displacement (extubation, migration to the bronchus) |
| bstruction | Obstruction, blockage or kinking of the endotracheal tube, or respirator respiratory system |
| atient | Pneumothorax, bronchospasm or other emergency conditions; also worth considering is the adequate depth of anesthesia |
| quipment | Damage or incomplete inflation of the tube cuff, improper connection or accidental disconnection of the ventilator respiratory system, failure or improper setting of the ventilator, lack of oxygen |
| tomach | Oesophageal intubation, gastric dilatation |