What causes anesthesia awareness?
Awareness occurs when you are not receiving enough anesthetic medication to keep you unconscious. Some people may react differently to the same level or type of anesthesia. Sometimes different medications can mask important signs that anesthesia professionals monitor to help assess the depth of anesthesia. In some situations, such as emergency, trauma and cardiac surgery, or in situations involving patients whose condition is unstable, the medical condition of the patient may prevent the anesthesia professional from using sufficient anesthesia to prevent awareness. Because anesthesia has certain effects on the body, including lowering blood pressure and slowing breathing, a deep anesthetic may not be in the best interest of the patient. In these and other situations – such as emergency cesarean delivery – awareness may not be completely avoidable. Awareness also may happen if the equipment that delivers the anesthetic to your body malfunctions, or if your anesthesia professional misjud
