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Waking up confused: emergence delirium in adults
About 1 in 20 adults showed delirium in the recovery room in a prospective study.
Anesthesia side effects · 2 min read
Emergence delirium ranges from mild confusion to thrashing and pulling out tubes. In a prospective study of 1,359 consecutive adult patients after general anesthesia, 64 (4.7%) developed delirium in the post-anesthesia care unit.
The study examined risk factors, and it reported that pre-operative anxiety was not a risk factor, while some pre-operative medications were associated with it. Risk factors are complex, so do not assume they apply to you.
Why mention it: a patient who is awake and oriented the whole time does not go through the transition from unconsciousness at all. That is not a promise that you will feel perfect, and sedation has its own effects, but it is one more reason some people prefer awake care.
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References
- Lepouse C, Lautner CA, Liu L, et al. Emergence delirium in adults in the post-anaesthesia care unit. Br J Anaesth. 2006;747-753. PMID 16670111