What can be after-effects after anaesthesia in older people? | Anaesthesia for elderly people

What can be after-effects after anaesthesia in older people?

An after-effect that is more common in the elderly is temporary confusion or disorientation after surgery. In addition, an older body needs a little more time to recover from the anesthesia, so a temporary weakness may occur. However, it is very important to become mobile again as soon as possible after the anesthesia and the operation in order to avoid complications of bed-riddenness.

In addition, the classic after-effects of anesthesia, such as nausea and vomiting, can also occur in older people. Women are particularly affected by these after-effects. Due to the breathing tube, hoarseness and slight pain in the neck area can still occur a few days after the anaesthesia.

Also possible is a feeling of cold and muscle trembling after the operation. This after-effect, however, is quickly eliminated. The risk of suffering from postoperative confusion increases with age.

Other negative influencing factors are secondary diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases or depression. In addition, patients who take drugs for depression or sedatives (benzodiazepines) have a comparatively higher risk of suffering from such confusion. Especially the secondary diseases can promote inflammatory processes in the brain during anesthesia.

This then has damaging effects on the nerve cells in the brain. As a countermeasure, one tries to keep the anesthesia as flat as possible. Should confusion occur after the anaesthetic, it should be counteracted as soon as possible with medication and other measures, as a long confusion has a bad effect on the prognosis.

What can be done to reduce after-effects?

The anesthesiologist can control the depth of the anesthesia during the operation, through the medication or the anesthetic gas. If there are risk factors that promote confusion, the anesthesiologist would try to keep the anesthesia as shallow as possible. This is a balancing act, as the anesthesia should not be too shallow at the same time, so that the patient is not aware of the operation.

If there is any confusion after the anesthesia, relatives can be of great help.Their presence alone gives the patient a familiar and secure feeling. The relatives are encouraged to calmly explain to the patient where he is and what has happened. Auxiliary means, such as watches or glasses, can also help the patient to find his way around in his unknown surroundings.

Often the day-night rhythm is confused in these patients. It therefore helps to support the patient in falling asleep in the evening through measures such as reading aloud. In justified cases, low-dose medications can be given to combat the confusion. In general, after an operation, a quick mobilization can help against many after-effects of the anesthesia and also the operation.