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[Dissociative stupor as a postoperative consequence of general anesthesia]
1Abteilung für Anästhesie und Operative Intensivmedizin, Klinikum Kempten-Oberallgäu gGmbH. mathias.haller@klinikum-kempten.de
Der Anaesthesist
|March 3, 2004
Summary
Postoperative unconsciousness after general anesthesia may be caused by dissociative stupor, not just pharmacological or organic issues. Prompt recovery followed lorazepam administration, suggesting this as a potential diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- General anesthesia involves careful patient monitoring for adverse effects.
- Unexplained prolonged unconsciousness post-surgery requires thorough investigation.
Observation:
- A patient remained unresponsive for 2 hours after uneventful general anesthesia for ovarian cyst resection.
- The patient exhibited stable vital signs but failed to respond to stimuli.
- Blinking was observed, prompting reconsideration of the cause of unresponsiveness.
Findings:
- Pharmacological and organic causes for postoperative unconsciousness were excluded.
- A hypothesis of dissociative stupor was proposed.
- Sublingual lorazepam administration led to prompt patient awakening and full recovery.
Implications:
- Dissociative stupor is a potential, albeit rare, cause of apparent coma after general anesthesia.
- This case highlights the importance of considering non-conventional diagnoses in persistent postoperative unresponsiveness.
- Further research may elucidate the mechanisms and prevalence of dissociative stupor in anesthesia recovery.