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Pain is reported in a small minority of patients who experience awareness – roughly 1/3 of patients with awareness report discomfort. A recent study suggests that the actual incidence for non high-risk patients is indeed much lower in the order of 1:15,000 to 1:40,000.1ĭo all patients who experience awareness also experience pain? This includes all patients undergoing general anesthesia including those in well-known high-risk groups. It is thought to occur in approximately 1 per 1,000 general anesthetics overall. How common is awareness during general anesthesia? While awareness of any sort is rare, awareness that includes pain is very rare. where the patient is not meant to be aware) is rare, and occurs when a patient describes their being aware of conversation, movement, pressure or discomfort. What is awareness during general anesthesia?Īwareness under general anesthesia (i.e.
GENERAL ANESTHESIA MOVIE
This fear is likely heightened by pop culture references such as the 2007 movie Awake and an episode of Grey’s Anatomy where a patient wakes up during surgery. Anesthesia specialists devote careful attention and use many methods to prevent this.One of the more common concerns expressed by patients is that they will wake up or experience pain in the middle of surgery. But awareness during general anesthesia is very rare. Some people who are going to have general anesthesia express concern that they will not be completely unconscious but will "wake up" and have some awareness during the surgical procedure. Muscle damage and a rapid increase in body temperature.Reactions to medicines used in the anesthesia.Pneumonia or other breathing disorders.Increases or decreases in blood pressure.Heart attack, heart failure, or stroke.Rare but serious risks of general anesthesia include: Inserting the breathing tube can sometimes cause damage to a person's mouth or teeth, but this is uncommon. Also, some people have a sore throat or hoarseness from the breathing tube inserted after the person is unconscious. Most of the time, this can be treated and doesn't last long. The breathing tube inserted during general anesthesia can also prevent stomach contents from entering your lungs.Īfter surgery using general anesthesia, a common side effect is nausea and vomiting. Be sure to carefully follow the directions you are given. This will help to prevent food from being inhaled (aspirated) into your lungs. You will be instructed on when to stop eating or drinking before anesthesia so that your stomach is empty. Fortunately, most side effects of general anesthesia are minor and can be easily managed. But because general anesthesia affects the whole body, it is more likely to cause side effects than local or regional anesthesia. Serious side effects of general anesthesia are uncommon in people who are otherwise healthy. Risks and complications from general anesthesia This includes going to work, making important decisions, or signing any legal documents. It's important to not do anything for 24 hours that requires attention to detail. It may take some time before the effects of the anesthesia are completely gone. After you are unconscious, anesthesia may be maintained with an inhaled anesthetic alone, with a combination of intravenous anesthetics, or a combination of inhaled and intravenous anesthetics.Īs you begin to awaken from general anesthesia, you may experience some confusion, disorientation, or difficulty thinking clearly. But inhaled anesthetics also may be used. General anesthesia is commonly begun (induced) with intravenous (IV) anesthetics. An endotracheal (ET) tube or a laryngeal mask airway device is usually used to give you an inhaled anesthetic and oxygen and to control and assist your breathing. General anesthesia suppresses many of your body's normal automatic functions, such as those that control breathing, heartbeat, circulation of the blood (such as blood pressure), movements of the digestive system, and throat reflexes such as swallowing, coughing, or gagging that prevent foreign material from being inhaled into your lungs (aspiration).īecause these functions are suppressed, an anesthesia specialist must carefully keep a balance of medicines while watching your heart, breathing, blood pressure, and other vital functions. General anesthesia also causes forgetfulness (amnesia) and relaxation of the muscles throughout your body. Under anesthesia, you should be completely unaware and not feel pain during the surgery or procedure.
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General anesthesia is a combination of medicines that you inhale or receive through a needle in a vein to cause you to become unconscious.