Awake and unable to move: what can perioperative practitioners do to avoid accidental awareness under general anaesthesia?

J Perioper Pract. 2015 Dec;25(12):257-61. doi: 10.1177/175045891502501202.

Abstract

I thought the last thing I would remember about my surgery was counting up to 10 ... but that didn't happen... I could hear people talking, instruments banging, the sound of my heart beat coming from the anaesthetic machine and all of a sudden, that horrible pain digging inside my body. Oh my God! I thought. I'm awake! I tried to tell someone but no sound came out of my mouth. I tried to kick my legs, shake my arms, blink, breathe... Nothing!! I couldn't move a muscle. I was paralysed and awake during my operation... I thought I was going to die!!!

MeSH terms

  • Anesthesia, General*
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Awareness*
  • Perioperative Care*
  • Risk Factors