Awareness During Surgery
How many patients are aware of pain during surgery? It is estimated that only one percent of surgery patients experience this dire predicament. But no one knows who it will be.
I’m sure that many of you,like myself, have worried that you might remain aware during surgery. It is a frighting thought because we know it does happen occasionally.By some estimates as many as 20,000 people a year experience this predicament. This is only about one percent of people who have surgery a year so it isn’t as many as it sounds like, but still if it happens to one, that’s one too many.
Most of the time if one is aware it is only of sounds and movement in the operating room and no actual pain. But sometimes there is full awareness of pain and being cut into. The best guard against this happening is a good anesthesiologist who is keeping careful watch.There are more than 20 million anesthesia’s in the U.S. every year and more than 99.8 remain totally unaware. Hospitals are more vigilant now about signs that might have gone unnoticed in times past. Some patients are interviewed about their experience during surgery. And many awareness patients are offered psychological counseling.
Image via Wikipedia
The anesthesiologist should be experienced and skillful enough to monitor the patient throughout the surgery and be able to determine the appropriate drugs in the right proportions. Monitoring the blood pressure, heart rate,oxygen levels,and EKG. A racing heart, perspiration or changes in the pupil might signal the patients awareness. A tear could signal a cry for help in a paralyzed patient. One thing we should all check out if we are having surgery is the experience and skill of the anesthesiologist who will be with us during surgery.
The actual number of people who are aware during surgery is unknown. The drugs administered cause paralyses and assures the inability to remember after the patient awakens except in rare instances. As far as I know I have not experienced pain during surgery but I always feel very stressed when I wake up so I don’t know.
Image via Wikipedia
Nagy Mikhail, anesthesiologist and pain specialist at the Cleveland Clinic said, ” Historically, it has been difficult to determine the depth of anesthesia. What looks like a gentle slumber is in fact a complex mix of states, unconsciousness, paralysis,insensitivity to pain and the inability to remember, that can vary from patient to patient.”It takes skill and judgement to determine the level of drugs needed by that particular patient.”
It’s scary when you are going into the hospital for surgery. When I had my last surgery and spoke to the anesthesiologist, I talked to him about awareness during the surgery and he assured me he would be monitoring me every second. He made me feel a little better but not much.
Liked it
CHAN LEE PENG | May 9, 2009 | Reply
We should all have awareness on the issue related to surgery as it involves live. Great piece, thanks.
Christine Ramsay | May 9, 2009 | Reply
I have never given this much thought before, but it is a scary thought. Thank you for making me aware of this.
Christine
Anne McNew | May 9, 2009 | Reply
that must be a good info for us to be aware of something very important. thanks for sharing
Uma Shankari | May 9, 2009 | Reply
I hadn’t thought of surgery along these lines. The prospect does definitely scare me.
Joe Dorish | May 9, 2009 | Reply
Had my wisdom teeth removed at 13 and I woke up a little during the surgery and saw the doctor with my blood all over his gown. He said, “He’s waking up!” and they must have hit me with more drugs because that’s all I remember. Felt no pain until I woke up after it was over. And I could spit blood for week!
Darla Smith | May 9, 2009 | Reply
A very scary thought!
Betty Carew | May 9, 2009 | Reply
Yes Ruby it does happen. I had a small procedure done a few years ago and I woke up in the middle of it . that was not fun and when I told the doctor what they were doing he couldn’t believe it. It has left me avioding any procedure since then. GReat article everyone needs to know that this does happen from time to time.
Jenny Heart | May 9, 2009 | Reply
I heard about this before. This is an important subject that need doctors to take more awareness to prevent these types of happenings.
B Nelson | May 9, 2009 | Reply
That would not be a very good experience, especially if your one that feels pain but cannot be awake to communicate it.. man.. thats nuts!
Mark Gordon Brown | May 9, 2009 | Reply
1% is rather high when you think about it. Good info to be afraid of.
seashell66 | May 9, 2009 | Reply
Wow, this is something we all dread, but hope it never happens. It’s very important to be aware. Thank you for your article.
DA Cournean | May 9, 2009 | Reply
Good article Ruby. I have never had this happen to me thank goodness.
kate smedley | May 9, 2009 | Reply
It’s a very frightening thought and you do hear some scary stories, very good article Ruby.
PR Mace | May 9, 2009 | Reply
I have heard of this and it is very scary. Well done article.
Daisy Peasblossom | May 10, 2009 | Reply
Not a very pleasant thought…feeling the surgery and being helpless. I don’t like letting go control, so my one and only major surgery experience, I had a spinal block, and was awake and aware but not in pain.
Poetic Enigma | May 10, 2009 | Reply
That was my only fear when I had surgery in April, that the anesthesia wouldn’t work, or wouldnt be strong enough,etc..
and that i’d be awake, but fortunately the anesthesia worked great
This is a great article, very informative
amilia snow | May 11, 2009 | Reply
it feels so scary, i have a phobia of surgeries, dentist, needles etc etc
Dan L | May 21, 2009 | Reply
My GF had deviated septum surgery yesterday. The Dr is supposed to be one of the best in the World in this field of medicine.
We both met with the anesthesiologist and he seemed to know his stuff well. Nice guy, too.
She was only given local anesthetics (novocaine) and some morphine shots (as far as I know) but no general anesthesia.
She was conscious, aware and felt everything through mostly the entire procedure!
The Dr’s and staff were shocked by her resistance to the medication and expessed great concern and dismay but couldn’t stop what they were doing in the middle of the procedure, so they continued.
For some reason unknown, the anesthesiologist was unable to help the situation and couldn’t block the pain.
What she went through, nobody should ever have to endure. She said it was a living nightmare while they restrained her arms, legs and shoulders to prevent her from moving. She was screaming, crying and begging them to stop what they were doing or to render her unconscious while they continued to break bone, shift cartlidge and reattach flesh with sutures.
We are all glad she’s OK now but what a horrible experience to have when you’ve been promised that you’ll feel nothing at all except some very mild discomfort.
Not sure if she will seek compensation yet but it’s certainly a thought. This wasn’t what she signed up for!
CutestPrincess | May 31, 2009 | Reply
it’s scary… thank God im not yet experiencing any surgery… thanks, you made me aware!