Incidence of accidental awareness during general anaesthesia in obstetrics: a multicentre, prospective cohort study

Summary

General anaesthesia for obstetric surgery has distinct characteristics that may contribute towards a higher risk of accidental awareness during general anaesthesia. The primary aim of this study from Odor et al. was to investigate the incidence, experience and psychological implications of unintended conscious awareness during general anaesthesia in obstetric patients.

Researchers discovered that one in 256 women going through pregnancy-related surgery are aware of what was going on — a far higher proportion than the one in every 19,000 identified in a previous national audit.

If a patient is conscious at some point while under general anaesthetic, they may be able to recall events from the surgery such as pain or the sensation of being trapped, the researchers said.