Anesthesia is often perceived as routine for use in delicate and painful procedures, regardless of its unknown methods of action. This can cause a lack of communication between doctors and patients, which may lead to harmful or potentially deadly consequences of use.
A study published in the Journal of Healthcare Risk Management showed that 80% of anesthesia medical malpractice claims were the result of inadequate preparation for the client, including failure to obtain updated medical records. These failures led to pain; tooth, organ, and nerve damage; and death.
A new study has confirmed that over half of elderly surgery patients who undergo anesthesia experience delirium in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Delirium is strongly linked to rapid cognitive decline and an increase in nursing home admittance as a result.
The results of a 2013 study conclude that undergoing anesthesia after the age of 65 increases the risk of developing dementia by 35 percent. Additionally, a substantial percent of those participating in the study exhibited signs of post-operative cognitive dysfunction after anesthetic use.
A 2012 study found that undergoing anesthesia at an early age carries a twofold risk of being diagnosed as a teenager with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. It verified the theory that the observation of increased behavioral abnormalities, such as hyperactivity, in young mice put under anesthesia is applicable to human children.