We have asked Dr. Siro Tato López, a specialist in general anesthesia and sedation at Dr. Silmi Clinic (Silmi Dental) and a member of TopDoctors about this matter.
Are patients under general anesthesia totally unconscious or is it possible to wake up?
“Generally, all patients who are administered general anesthesia, controlled by an expert anesthesiologist, remain in a state of complete unconsciousness during the intervention. However, there is a condition known as intraoperative awakening that occurs in 0.13% of patients. Therefore, it is extremely rare and not very prevalent. This intraoperative awakening allows a person to partially regain consciousness during the operation. In these cases, the patient usually has mild memories of his intervention, as well as fear and a certain sensation of suffocation (in the event that he is intubated) ”, explains Tato López.
“Intraoperative awakening is extremely rare , occurring between 1 and 3 cases in every 1000 patients undergoing general anesthesia. Its prevention is in the hand of the specialized anesthesiologist. Hence the importance of this specialist in surgical acts ”, clarifies the expert.
What exactly does an anesthesiologist deal with?
“ Despite popular belief, the functions of an anesthesiologist or anesthetist go far beyond the simple administration of anesthetic drugs. This is a specialized doctor, who accompanies the patient at all times, in order to control their vital signs during the surgical act. The anesthesiologist is also responsible for the diagnosis of any health problems that may arise during the operation. To do this, he works alongside the surgeon at all times. The anesthesiologist must have extensive medical training . For 6 years he has studied for a degree in medicine. After preparing the MIR, he will carry out his 4-year specialized residency. Throughout the period of residence, he learns the diagnosis of all kinds of diseases and their treatment. The goal is for him to be sufficiently trained to anticipate any problem in the operating room, ”says Tato López.
“Throughout a surgical procedure, the anesthetist will remain with the patient, monitoring his vital signs, such as the patient’s heart rate, respiration and blood pressure. The dose of general anesthesia administered depends on this specialist, since prior to the operation he makes a complete assessment of the patient ”, says the expert.
Presurgical evaluation
Before general anesthesia is administered, patients will receive a preoperative evaluation to determine the most appropriate medications to use, the amounts of those medications, and in what combination.
Some of the factors that should be explored in a presurgical evaluation include:
-body mass index (BMI)
-medical history
-years
-current medications
-fast time
alcohol or drug intake
-use of pharmaceutical drugs
-Oral, dental and respiratory inspection.
-observation of the flexibility of the neck and extension of the head.
It is essential that these questions are answered accurately. For example, if a history of alcohol or drug use is not mentioned, an inappropriate amount of anesthesia could be administered, which could lead to dangerously high blood pressure or involuntary intraoperative awareness.
Key facts about general anesthesia
-An anesthesiologist or anesthetist usually administers the general anesthetic before an operation
-There are some risks associated with the administration of general anesthesia, but they are relatively safe when administered correctly.
-Very rarely, a patient may experience involuntary intraoperative awareness
-Side effects of general anesthesia can include dizziness and nausea.
