Current and Developing Approaches for Facilitating Emergence from General Anesthesia

Despite the widespread use of clinical anesthesia, the process of emergence from general anesthesia remains primarily driven by anesthetic elimination. Although emergence from general anesthesia is typically safe, prolonged delays strain resource-intensive settings and contribute to increased healthcare costs. In addition to improving access to care, providing clinicians with more precise control over emergence could offer diagnostic potential and improve patient outcomes. For decades, this unmet need has motivated research into the mechanisms underlying anesthetic emergence. Now, the first agents for facilitating emergence are entering the market, with more in development. This narrative review critically evaluates advancements in the development of emergence-promoting therapies, examining insights from preclinical research to clinical trials. This study categorizes prospective emergence agents/strategies into one of three primary approaches: (1) strategies that primarily manipulate anesthetic pharmacokinetics, (2) agents designed to directly target anesthetic receptor-binding sites, and (3) strategies that leverage arousal-promoting neural pathways. The parallel development of these approaches, each with their distinct strengths and limitations, holds promise for paving the way for a tailored approach to facilitate emergence.