Study: 41% of patients who wake up during general anesthesia suffer long-term psychological effects

New research has found that a patient may experience “accidental awareness” during general anesthesia in about one in every 19,000 cases, according to a report by The Advisory Board Company.

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The research conducted by the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland analyzed data on three million operations that occurred over the course of one year.

The study found that more than 300 of the patients involved reported gaining consciousness after being put under general anesthesia. Around 41 percent of the patients suffered long-term psychological harm, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Also, it was more likely to occur during cardiothoracic surgery or during Caesarean section surgeries, according to the report.

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