The limitation of our study is that it did not assess the long-term psychological sequelae of
intraoperative awareness and recall among the victims.
Inhalation of volatile anesthetics via a laryngeal mask is associated with lower incidence of
intraoperative awareness in non-critically ill patients.
In some circumstances,
intraoperative awareness cannot be avoided because of other critically important medical goals.
This position is supported by the scientific literature and independent experts, including the American Society of Anesthesiologists Task Force on
Intraoperative Awareness, which recently advised that brain function monitoring is not routinely indicated for patients undergoing general anesthesia.
Dr David Bogod, a consultant anaesthetist at Nottingham City Hospital, has written reports on
intraoperative awareness cases for a number of legal actions.
A consultant anaesthetist,Dr David Bogod,has written reports on
intraoperative awareness cases for a number of legal actions.``It has been one of the main reasons why people have taken legal action against anaesthetists,''he says.
No patient reported
intraoperative awareness in the recovery room, or on days one or three after surgery.
The incidence of
intraoperative awareness has been reported as 1-2 cases per 1,000 under general anesthesia, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).
Protocol for the "Michigan Awareness Control Study": a prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing electronic alerts based on bispectral index monitoring or minimum alveolar concentration for the prevention of
intraoperative awareness. BMC Anesthesiol 2009; 9:7.
The potency and rapid onset of action of remifentanil is very appropriate for these cases, decreasing the risk of
intraoperative awareness and blunting the haemodynamic changes during surgery.
The limitation of our study is that it did not assess the long term psychological sequelae of
intraoperative awareness and recall among the victims.