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 2 The most important conditions associated with general anesthesia leading to intraoperative hypoxemia.
| Emergency conditions directly related to the respiratory system (bronchospasm/laryngospasm, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, anaphylactic reaction) |
| Pulmonary parenchymal atelectasis and conditions leading to its occurrence |
| Complications of intubation and laryngoscopy (aspiration of digestive contents, prolonged intubation) |
| Undiagnosed displacement of the endotracheal tube (esophagus, main bronchus, accidental extubation) |
| Technical mistakes (ventilator failure, accidental disconnection/damage/blockage of artificial airway, incorrect setting of respiratory parmeters) |
| Conditions causing hemodynamic disturbances, leading to inadequate lung perfusion |
| Malignant hyperthermia |