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Delayed Emergence from Anesthesia: What We Know and How We Act.
Marco Cascella1, Sabrina Bimonte1, Raffaela Di Napoli2
1Division of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS - "Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy.
Local and Regional Anesthesia
|November 12, 2020
Summary
Delayed emergence from anesthesia, a slowed return to consciousness, can increase operating room delays and costs. Understanding its causes and treatments, including "active awakening," is crucial for patient care.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Emergence from anesthesia is the critical transition from unconsciousness to wakefulness.
- Delayed emergence, a prolonged awakening, complicates patient recovery and increases healthcare costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated review of delayed emergence from general anesthesia.
- To analyze the causes, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies for delayed emergence.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on delayed emergence from general anesthesia.
- Analysis of neurobiological underpinnings of emergence.
- Discussion of clinical diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Main Results:
- Delayed emergence is distinct from emergence delirium, though they can co-occur.
- Causes of delayed emergence are multifactorial, requiring accurate diagnosis.
- Therapeutic strategies focus on identifying underlying causes and exploring "active awakening".
Conclusions:
- Delayed emergence presents clinical challenges requiring prompt diagnosis and management.
- Understanding the neurobiology of emergence is key to improving patient outcomes.
- Active awakening strategies offer promising therapeutic perspectives.
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