Delayed Emergence from General Anesthesia Caused by Acute Subdural Hematoma: A case report / 대한마취과학회지

ABSTRACT

Emergence from anesthesia may be neurologically unsatisfactory. Delayed awakening after general anesthesia is most commonly caused by the effects of anesthetic drugs, but primary central neurologic events (hemorrhage, ischemia, and embolus, etc) that occur during surgery can cause failure to awaken. We experienced a patient whose emergence was delayed from general anesthesia for zygomatic bone savage. The patient had such unexpected focal neurologic abnormalities as left ankle clonus and anisocoria (right dilation). Brain CT revealed acute subdural hematoma as a cause of delayed emergence in the postanesthetic care unit. An emergency craniectomy was performed to evacuate the hematoma, but the patient failed to regain consciousness following surgery. The patient regained consciousness on the 28th postoperative day, and had left hemiparesis and right blindness.