A study in Journal of Clinical Anesthesia found that patients with insomnia may necessitate an increase in anesthetic requirement.
The researchers conducted an observational study with inpatients planning to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy as an elective surgery; from this group, they identified patients with or without insomnia. Anesthesia was standardized for both of these groups.
The researchers analyzed the patients' heart rate, noninvasive arterial blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation and bispectral index values, among other variables, at five-minute intervals during the operation. The patients' levels of pain were also assessed before and after the procedure.
Here's what you need to know:
1. Bispectral index values were similar in both groups during the procedure; however, the mean end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations were significantly higher in the insomnia group.
2. The end-tidal concentration of sevoflurane was higher in the insomnia group during the maintenance phase of anesthesia.
3. Overall, pain experience was higher in the insomnia group, both before and after the procedure.
4. The postoperative abdominal pain score was higher at the 18-hour interval in the insomnia group.
5. The researchers concluded that insomnia may result in increased pain experience and, therefore, anesthetic requirement.
The researchers emphasized that additional research on the link between anesthesia and insomnia is necessary.