Repeated episodes of difficulty with arousal following general anesthesia in a patient with ulnar neuropathy

J Anesth. 2009;23(1):119-22. doi: 10.1007/s00540-008-0705-4. Epub 2009 Feb 22.

Abstract

Delayed emergence following general anesthesia may be due to serious life-threatening disorders and deserves prompt evaluation. Rarely, delayed emergence has been attributed to a psychiatric or psychological cause. This report describes an otherwise healthy and mentally sound 52-year-old woman who experienced repeated dissociative episodes following general anesthesia for minor surgical procedures. These episodes lasted for 5 h and resulted in admission to the intensive care unit. The current literature is reviewed to identify commonalities among previously reported cases and to discuss different psychiatric and psychological mechanisms that can play a role in the development of this disorder.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anesthesia Recovery Period*
  • Anesthesia, General / adverse effects*
  • Complex Regional Pain Syndromes / complications
  • Critical Care
  • Dissociative Disorders / chemically induced*
  • Dissociative Disorders / psychology*
  • Dissociative Disorders / therapy
  • Electric Stimulation Therapy
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Postoperative Complications / psychology*
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy
  • Ulnar Neuropathies / surgery*