Researchers in St. Louis say patients who sometimes appear to be sedated but are awake for procedures should be measured with a new brain wave-monitoring device, according to a Houston Chronicle report.
Between one in 500 and one in 1,000 patients report remembering pain, feeling paralyzed or hearing something stressful during surgery, according to the report. Some develop post-traumatic stress disorder and require psychological counseling following surgery.
Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine found that a device that monitors brain activity, known as the bispectral index, is no more effective than a cheaper, simpler method of measuring anesthetic concentration levels in exhaled breath.
Washington University anesthesiology professor led the study of 6,000 high-risk surgical patients in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers concluded that the simpler, cheaper method of monitoring sedation is just as effective as bispectral index, though researchers should continue to develop new brain wave-monitoring methods that provide real-time measurements.
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Between one in 500 and one in 1,000 patients report remembering pain, feeling paralyzed or hearing something stressful during surgery, according to the report. Some develop post-traumatic stress disorder and require psychological counseling following surgery.
Researchers from Washington University School of Medicine found that a device that monitors brain activity, known as the bispectral index, is no more effective than a cheaper, simpler method of measuring anesthetic concentration levels in exhaled breath.
Washington University anesthesiology professor led the study of 6,000 high-risk surgical patients in a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers concluded that the simpler, cheaper method of monitoring sedation is just as effective as bispectral index, though researchers should continue to develop new brain wave-monitoring methods that provide real-time measurements.
Related Articles on Anesthesia:
University of South Florida to Double Tuition for Nurse Anesthesia Program
Physicians May Be Overconfident in Ability to Avoid Residual Block
Somnia Anesthesia Blog Discusses Drug Shortage