he Anesthesia Awareness Registry database is now enrolling subjects. The ASA Committee on Professional Liability initiated the development of the database in order to learn more about patients’ experiences of awareness during general anesthesia. The project will provide information on patients’ understanding of intraoperative awareness and provide a patient perspective on how anesthesiologists might intervene when a patient has experienced awareness during general anesthesia.

Patients who enroll in the Anesthesia Awareness Registry will complete a survey about their experiences and, if requested, submit copies of their medical records for data abstraction and analysis. Limited funding is available to reimburse patients for the costs of obtaining copies of their medical records. The registry has a federal certificate of confidentiality protecting those who participate.

ASA members wishing to provide information to their patients about the project can obtain a patient information sheet about the Anesthesia Awareness Registry at the project Web site www.AwareDB.org. Enrollment packets also are available directly to patients from the Web site.