Although it is not a common occurrence for people to develop pneumonia during surgery, or to get post operative anesthetic pneumonia, it is not impossible by any means. In the recent past, it was fairly common for patients of surgery who had been administered local or specified anesthesia to develop all kinds of infections post surgery. Pneumonia is only one such common infection. Generally, this problem did not reach proportions of being labeled as "severe" as you have stated, but the problem did and does exist even today. General anesthesia is not more or less likely to lead to post operative infections and subsequent complications either. Specifically administered anesthesia like epidurals may also lead to similar problems. It is also important for you to know that the only problem that can arise in this situation is not pneumonia. A whole host of other infections could also affect you likewise. There could be lung infection of other kinds, common coughs and colds or kidney infections. In some delicate and extreme cases that have been poorly handled, even upper respiratory tract infection can occur.
If you have developed severe anesthetic pneumonia during surgery, or are even afflicted with it post operatively, it is best for you to remain under medical supervision until you are completely cured. Remember that there can be complications of many kinds that can arise due to this one problem. Remaining hospitalized and under constant vigilance can actually sometimes make the difference between life and death. Post operative care is also not easy by itself, and when accompanied with a lung infection, it will only get more difficult. The only thing that can be successfully advised is that you remain under medical supervision and care until a complete recovery if affected. If possible, it is wiser to remain hospitalized for the duration.
answered by M W