intraoperative awareness

Intraoperative awareness is a rare condition where a patient becomes conscious during surgery under general anesthesia. This means they may be able to hear, see, or feel sensations, but are unable to move or communicate. While anesthesia is intended to fully block pain and consciousness, sometimes, due to various factors like medication dosing or individual differences, some awareness can occur. Although usually not harmful physically, it can lead to psychological distress or trauma if the patient experiences pain, fear, or helplessness during the event. Medical teams carefully monitor anesthesia levels to minimize this risk.