What are the chances of getting anesthesia awareness?

What are the chances of getting anesthesia awareness?

Several studies put the incidence of anesthesia awareness at 0.1\% of all general anesthesia patients. That works out to be about 21,000 of the 21 million people in the U.S. who get general anesthesia in a typical year.

Can doctors tell if you have anesthesia awareness?

Anaesthetic drugs are supposed to dampen down that activity, with a characteristic pattern of slow waves on the electrode monitor showing that the person really is unconscious. Unfortunately, some recent studies have revealed troubling findings that these brain monitors are unreliable at detecting awareness.

Can people resist anesthesia?

Some patients may be more resistant to the effects of anesthetics than others; factors such as younger age, obesity, tobacco smoking, or long-term use of certain drugs (alcohol, opiates, or amphetamines) may increase the anesthetic dose needed to produce unconsciousness.

Can you sue for anesthesia awareness?

Any other time harm is caused by failing medical equipment or doctor error, a patient can seek compensation through a negligence or malpractice lawsuit. So the same should be true for anesthesia awareness cases.

Who is at risk for anesthesia awareness?

Risk factors for awareness include patient age, cardiac reserve and substance abuse. Procedures associated with increased risk include cardiac and trauma surgery and cesarean section. Preventative strategies include monitoring by a skilled anesthesiologist and possibly the use of benzodiazepines.

Do you dream while under anesthesia?

Under anesthesia, patients do not dream. Confusing general anesthesia and natural sleep can be dangerous.

Is anesthesia awareness genetic?

The functional consequences and prevalence of these variations remain unknown. Human studies have shown that the immobilizing dose of anesthetic may vary by as much as 24\% in populations with different genetic backgrounds. Thus, pharmacogenetics may be one factor contributing to intraoperative awareness.

Is anesthesia awareness the anesthesiologists fault?

Awareness during surgery is a very serious problem for the anesthetist and the patient as well. Such incidents are the cause for 2\% of the legal claims against anesthetists while patients with intraoperative awareness experience describe it as the worst thing they have ever suffered from.

What can happen if an anesthesiologist messes up?

When blood flow is interrupted, like when too much anesthesia is administered, the cells can be starved of oxygen. Oxygen deprivation can quickly result in a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or death. Traumatic brain injuries can also occur if a patient aspirates.