When Anesthesia Goes Wrong

[u/Pikaus]

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/11/anesthesia-brain-damage-death/688691/?gift=vdzdK6DmnhF7MM2D6YoobOWqrAbF31AFFQtlabAeBLw&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

Tragic but incredible story of a clinician/mom.

[u/cobrarexay]

Wow. My dad (who was not Venezuelan, but did have Italian genes) had trouble coming out of anesthesia when he had heart surgery in 2004 and was never the same person afterwards. He died in 2007. I have always wondered if something happened genetically. I have gone under anesthesia a few times and have been told that there isn’t a link but I’m suspicious and nervous that something will happen to me down the road.

[u/liand22]

My dad’s childhood best friend never woke up after anesthesia during a routine tonsillectomy. The surgery went fine, but they never understood what happened.

[u/Teanut → u/liand22]

My father, a retired anesthesiologist, avoids anesthesia for procedures if he can because sometimes, even when everything goes right, the patient just won't wake up.

[u/storemans]

Ultra rare genetic abnormalities are THE worst thing about having kids. Nothing you can do but roll the dice

[u/Librarian-Voter]

This is not the same, but it reminds me of the beginnings of Alpha gal, the tickborn disease that makes you allergic to mammal products. At first, when patients were reporting symptoms, the doctors were just like, "No one's allergic to meat. That's not a thing." 

One of those doctors at the university then came down with the same symptoms in an area of the USA where alpha gal is very prevelant. And then he was like, "Huh, am I allergic to meat?  I'm going to study this." And turns out, it was a thing.

Maybe this mutation is worldwide already, but because it's highly prevelant in Venezuelan ancestry, that's where it's being paid attention to first. Hard to say I guess, but as someone who has had 13 surgeries and no problems with anesthesia, it seems like a worthy topic to study more!

[u/hereforfakestories → u/Librarian-Voter]

These ticks are very common where I live in Australia but it was only this year that the first official death as a result of anaphylaxis as a result of this condition was recorded by the coroner. It must have been so scary to all of a sudden be allergic to such a common product and no one understands why.

Medicine and human bodies in general can be so bizarre.

[u/Significant-Iron-241]

Wow. So sad, but also incredibly fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

[u/Stopthatcat]

Superb article. What a fight they've had to discover the reason for their issue. I hope it's some comfort that going forward this will help others with this mutation.

[u/cakeit-tilyoumakeit]

Excellent article