study of recall during general anesthesia

ABSTRACT

In the present study, hundred patients undergoing elective surgical operations were studied to investigate the frequency of awareness and ability to recall associated with light general anaesthesia using Nitrous Oxide, Oxygen and relaxant technique. All the patients were pre-medicated with Inj. Morphine, Promethazine and Atropine intramuscular 45-60 min. before induction of anaesthesia. Only four patients reported awareness during surgery and could recall the conversations and incidence, which occurred during anaesthesia. No patient complained of any pain during surgery and all the patients were alert postoperatively. No patient had any dreams during operation and none of the patients was restless after recovery from anaesthesia. It was concluded that advantage of Nitrous Oxide, Oxygen and relaxant technique to provide adequate anaesthesia and muscle relaxation for surgery and also to ensure alertness with minimum cardio-respiratory disturbances at the end of operation can be made use of in patients with acute or chronic metabolic, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases undergoing emergency or elective surgical operations