P GA RISKS

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Here’s a clear list of common and serious risks of General Anaesthesia (GA) in children that must typically be included in the parental consent discussion under NHS guidance in the UK:

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🧠 General Anaesthesia in Children

✅ Risks to be explained during consent

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🔹 Common (mild) risks

These happen frequently but are short-term and usually not serious:

Risk	Notes
Sore throat	From the breathing tube
Nausea and vomiting	Usually resolves quickly
Drowsiness/confusion	Common after GA, especially in younger children
Shivering	Often due to body temperature drop during surgery
Headache or dizziness	Can occur as child wakes up
Bruising/soreness at IV site	From cannula insertion
Agitation or distress on waking	Known as “emergence delirium” in young children

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🔸 Less common but more serious risks

These are less frequent but should still be explained as part of informed consent:

Risk	Notes
Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)	Rare but serious; staff are trained to manage this
Breathing difficulties	May require temporary assistance during/after GA
Damage to teeth, lips or tongue	From airway equipment
Awareness during surgery	Extremely rare in children
Prolonged sleepiness or confusion	Can occur in sensitive individuals or after long procedures

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🔴 Very rare but serious risks (explain these exist, but emphasise rarity)

Risk	Notes
Heart problems (e.g., arrhythmia, cardiac arrest)	Extremely rare
Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)	Requires immediate treatment
Brain injury or death	Exceptionally rare; risk increases with major health issues or emergency surgery

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🧾 Notes for Consent:

• Use simple, age-appropriate language when discussing with both parents and the child (if appropriate).

• Emphasise that serious complications are rare, especially in healthy children.

• Document that these risks were discussed and understood.

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Would you like a written consent form template or a parent information leaflet to go with this?