What are the side effects of general anesthesia?

Theoretically, many types of side effects are possible from general anesthesia. Their likelihood of occurrence however, depends on your medical condition, the type of surgery performed, the type of anesthetic agents used, and many other factors. Your anesthesiologist will discuss these issues with you prior to your surgery in full detail. In reality, however, the most common side effects include nausea, a sore throat, or an “anesthetic hangover”. Generally, these respond well to treatment and have a short duration.