Awareness During Anaesthesia: The Results Of A Questionnaire Survey—A Narrative Review

Abstract

Intraoperative awareness under general anesthesia remains a significant concern due to its potential psychological impact on patients. Estimating its incidence and identifying associated risk factors are crucial for enhancing patient safety. This review covers the questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey conducted among anesthesiologists and patients to assess the occurrence of anesthesia awareness. Data regarding the use of depth of anesthesia monitoring and episodes of definite or suspected awareness will be covered, along with reported cases. The studies represented a large number of anesthetic procedures, among which only a small portion involved definite or possible awareness, indicating the overall incidence. Proper anesthetic dosing, vigilant monitoring, and careful assessment of high-risk patients are vital to reduce its occurrence.