May, 2005

The 10 Things You Should Know about Patient Awareness Under General Anesthesia:

1. It is quite rare. When it does occur, it is often fleeting and not traumatic to the patient.

2. Patients experiencing awareness usually do not feel any pain. Some patients may experience a feeling of pressure.

3. Awareness can range from brief, hazy recollections to some specific awareness of your surroundings during surgery. Patients who dream during surgery, or who have some perception of their surroundings before or after surgery, may think they have experienced awareness. Such a sensation or memory does not necessarily represent actual awareness during surgery.

4. Experts in the field of anesthesiology are actively studying this condition and are seeking the most effective ways to prevent it.

5. Awareness can occur in high-risk surgeries such as trauma and cardiac surgery in which the patient’s condition may not allow for a deep anesthetic to be given. In those instances, the anesthesia professional will weigh the potential for awareness against the need to guard the patient’s life or safety. The same is true during a cesarean section, particularly if it is an emergency and a deep anesthetic is not best for the mother or child.

6. It has been shown that early counseling after an episode of awareness can help to lessen feelings of confusion, stress or trauma associated with the experience.

7. Researchers in anesthesiology have spearheaded developments in technology that have dramatically improved patient safety and comfort during surgery over the last 20 years.

8. A highly trained anesthesia professional should be involved in your surgery. No technology can replace this expertise.

9. New brain-wave monitoring devices currently being tested may prove to be helpful in reducing the risk of awareness, but they need to undergo the same rigorous scientific review process that has led to wide adoption of other medical technologies.

10. Patients should talk with their anesthesia professional before surgery to discuss all of their concerns, including the remote possibility of awareness. These professionals work to ensure the best possible care of patients in the operating room.

Remember: Patient awareness happens very infrequently. This remote possibility should not deter you from having needed surgery. Your anesthesia professional can help you to feel comfortable and informed about your upcoming experience with anesthesia.

“Patient Awareness Under General Anesthesia — What Is It?” has been prepared by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

Copyright © 2005 by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. All rights reserved.