Waking up during surgery fairly common

ST. LOUIS, April 3 (UPI) -- Waking up during surgery with subsequent recall is surprisingly common, affecting around 1-in-500 surgical cases, U.S. researchers conclude.

Michael Avidan, George Mashour and David Glick said that becoming consciousness during general anesthesia is an extremely distressing condition leading to post-operative psychological trauma and contributes toward patients' fear of surgery.

Avidan, a member of Faculty of 1000 Medicine and of Washington University in St. Louis, said there are a number of candidate awareness monitors available to anesthesiologists and operating staff. However, attention has focused on the bispectral index monitor, which is used widely in operating rooms and intensive care units around the world.

However, it isn't clear that the reduction in awareness reported with bispectral index monitors is attributable predominantly to the technology itself.

The researchers added that recent research suggests that previous cases of awareness with explicit recall might have been prevented by implementing a simple "increased vigilance" protocol. Such a protocol would cost less and be less prone to machine malfunction, the researchers said.

The review was published by F1000 Medicine Reports.