1- Anesthesiology Research Center and Department, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical of Sciences
2- Anesthesiology Research Center and Department of Cardiac Anesthesiology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical of Sciences , alidabbagh@yahoo.com
Abstract: (16639 Views)
Background: There are a number of reports regarding awareness during anesthesia and its risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of awareness in elective abdominal surgery in opium abusers compared with non-abusers.
Methods: In a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, 120 patients were selected and were divided into two groups, opium addicts and non addicts, 60 patients in each. The patients were compared regarding clinical criteria during anesthesia. They were reviewed regarding the content of their answers to the study questionnaire, after a time interval of 24 hours postoperatively (after the surgery). To evaluate the awareness status after general anesthesia, a clinical assessment checklist was used and also, two questionnaires were used. These questionnaires were composed of open ended questions and were administered by one of the colleagues (they were not self administered questionnaires to increase the appropriateness of the answers)
Results: There was no differences between the two research groups regarding basic study variables (p>0.05). The clinical findings and the results of the interviews demonstrated more awareness in the opium abusers (p<0.001).
Conclusions: This study demonstrated a higher chance of awareness in the opium abusing patients when undergoing general anesthesia for the surgical operations involving the abdominal area. This study mentioned that a history of opium abuse can be added as a risk factor for awareness to the previous risk factors.