Hypoxia and Medicine

Why is there chances of airway obstruction, inadeauate breathing and potential hypoxia after surgery?

Public Comments

1. the anesthesia will relax your whole body causing your tongue to slide back blocking your airway or a machine will breathe for you and if its slow your body wont get enough oxygen or vice versa. also there maybe damage from tubes and stuff going into you during surgery that when its removed will swell up a little nothing to be worried about just something to be aware of not to worry
2. General anesthetics relax the pharyngeal muscles, and many people are prone to airway obstruction upon emergence from GA because they are still a little weak. Most people are supine in the recovery room, which is the worst position for maintaining a good airway. Respiration may be diminished because of pain, effects of opiates, and residual anesthetics. Diminished respiration can cause hypoxia. (There is also the potential for exhaled nitrous oxide to create hypoxia in the lungs, but that is more theoretical than practical)
3. i dunno, but i remember during my 2nd c-section, it started getting a lil hard for me to breath right, i also got a lil sick during both...
4. While your in surgery someone is watching making sure you are doing these functions, then your out and still really high, so someone then has to make sure your ok until you come down and do it yourself.