Is it possible to wake up during surgery?
April 5, 2023 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Felix Herrmann
Dear Anesthesiologist,
My name is Ralf Schmidt and I have an important question regarding my planned surgery. I have heard that it is sometimes possible for patients to wake up during surgery while under general anesthesia. This thought is causing me great concern and I would like to learn more about it to alleviate my fears.
The background of my question is that I have had negative experiences with anesthesia in the past. I remember waking up shortly after the anesthesia and feeling very anxious and disoriented. My treating physician reassured me that such incidents are very rare and that he will take additional measures next time to ensure that I am well taken care of throughout the entire operation.
However, the possibility of waking up suddenly during surgery is still troubling me. I am worried that I may feel pain or witness the surgery, which would be very frightening for me. Therefore, I am wondering if there are specific risk factors that contribute to waking up during surgery, and if there are possible measures to minimize this risk.
Can you please tell me more about how anesthesia is monitored during surgery and what safety precautions are taken to prevent a patient from waking up? Are there specific technologies or controls that help reduce the risk of waking up during surgery?
Thank you in advance for your help and support in answering my questions. Your information will help me better prepare for my upcoming surgery and overcome my fears.
Sincerely,
Ralf Schmidt
Dear Mr. Schmidt,
Thank you very much for your important question regarding your planned surgery and your fears about waking up during general anesthesia. It is understandable that such thoughts are causing you worry, and it is important that you educate yourself to alleviate your fears.
First and foremost, I want to emphasize that it is very rare for patients to wake up during surgery while under general anesthesia. Modern anesthesia techniques and monitoring technologies have greatly reduced the risk of waking up during surgery. Nevertheless, it is important for you to address this issue and clarify any questions you may have.
It is reassuring to hear that your treating physician is already taking additional measures to ensure that you are well cared for throughout the entire operation. There are indeed certain risk factors that can favor waking up during surgery, such as inadequate dosing of anesthesia, individual reactions to anesthesia, or unforeseen events like drops in blood pressure.
To minimize the risk of waking up during surgery, various safety precautions are taken. Throughout the entire operation, your condition will be continuously monitored, including your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and other vital signs. The anesthesia team is in constant communication with you and can react immediately to minimize risks.
Furthermore, there are special technologies and controls that help further reduce the risk of waking up during surgery. These include EEG monitors that monitor brain activity and can detect signs of waking up early. The use of muscle relaxants can also help suppress muscle activity and prevent unwanted waking up.
It is important that you trust your anesthesia team and have open discussions about your fears.
