Description of General Anesthesia Complications in Patients With Hypertension at RSUD Cilacap

Abstract

General anesthesia is a commonly used anesthetic technique in surgical procedures; however, it may cause postoperative complications, particularly in patients with comorbid hypertension. Hypertensive patients are at higher risk of experiencing hemodynamic changes due to physiological responses to anesthesia and surgical stress. This study aimed to describe the complications of general anesthesia in patients with comorbid hypertension at RSUD Cilacap. This was a quantitative study with a cross-sectional design using total sampling, involving 46 patients. Data were obtained through observation in the recovery room and analyzed descriptively. The characteristics of respondents showed a mean age of 44.33 years, with the majority being female (60.9%). The most frequent complication was rebound hypertension (54.3%), followed by postoperative nausea and vomiting (17.4%), pain (13.0%), delayed recovery of consciousness (13.0%), and hypotension (10.9%). The high incidence of rebound hypertension may be associated with increased sympathetic activity, discontinuation effects of anesthetic agents, and postoperative stress response. These findings highlight the importance of optimal hemodynamic monitoring in hypertensive patients during the postoperative period.