Risk factor for intraoperative awareness. Rev Bras Anestesiol. 2012;62:365-374. [PMID: 22656682 DOI: 10.1016/s0034-7094(12)70137-x]

Magnitude and Associated Factors of Awareness with Recall under General Anesthesia in Amhara Regional State Referral Hospitals, 2018

Introduction

Awareness with recall of intraoperative events is an infrequent but potentially devastating complication of general anesthesia, with a reported incidence of 0.1-0.2% in low-risk patients. Higher incidence is expected in resource-limited operation room setups and in high-risk patients. Awareness can result in significant distress to patients and long-term psychological consequences, including symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, night mares, night terror, dissatisfaction with surgical service, and sometimes even suicide.

Objective

To assess the magnitude and associated factors of awareness with recall under general anesthesia in Amhara regional state referral hospitals.

Method

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 1065 patients who underwent surgery under general anesthesia from January 1 to June 30, 2018. The study participants were selected by systematic random sampling from 4 referral hospitals. The modified Brice questionnaire was used to detect awareness under general anesthesia. Interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and chart review were employed. Data with complete information were entered in to SPSS version 20 computer software. Descriptive statics and bivariate and multivariable analysis were computed. A P-value less than 0.2 was used to select candidate variables for multivariable logistic regression. A P-value less than 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.

Result

1065 patients were included in the study which makes the response rate of 90.7%. The magnitude of awareness with recall under general anesthesia was found to be 8.2% of which 4.9%, 2.6%, and 0.7% of patients reported hearing voice, pain, and sensation of breathing tube, respectively. Lack of premedication was the only significantly associated factor for awareness with recall under general anesthesia (AOR = 3.014, 95% CI (1.201 to 7.565)).

Conclusion and Recommendation

Our study showed higher magnitude of awareness with recall under general anesthesia. Lack of premedication was the only associated factor with awareness with recall under general anesthesia. Anesthetists should give emphasis to prevent the possibility of awareness under general anesthesia by providing premedication. Cohort studies should be done including the consequences of awareness with recall under general anesthesia.

Endoscopic removal of a self-expanding metallic airway stent: A case report

Self-expanding metallic stents are sometimes placed for the management of obstructing airway lesions or conditions such as airway wall malacia or tracheal stenosis. However, endoscopic removal of these devices from the airway can pose extreme challenges for both clinical airway management as well as for the administration of general anesthesia. We report on a 61-year-old man with a complex cardiac history presenting for endoscopic stent removal necessitated by the formation of extensive granulation tissue. Comorbidities included a history of myocardial infarction, an ischemic cardiomyopathy with severe left heart failure (ejection fraction of 25%), mild right heart failure, 2+ tricuspid regurgitation status post tricuspid valve repair, and atrial fibrillation. An automatic external (wearable) cardiac defibrillator (Zoll Life Vest) was also in place. Induction of anesthesia was carried out using etomidate, with maintenance of anesthesia carried out with a propofol infusion (total intravenous anesthesia). Rocuronium was used for neuromuscular blockade. A size 4 iGel supraglottic airway and, later, rigid bronchoscopy formed the basis for airway management. Stable conditions were met through the 2-h procedure, and the patient recovered uneventfully. Our successful experience in this case leads us to propose further use of a supraglottic airway in conjunction with total intravenous anesthesia for these procedures.