what are the reasons

[proud2b1]

My son just had an appendectomy,he is 15.The surgeon told me it took 4 of them to hold him down,as they were removing his tube.They said he was determined to lie on his side.Is it common for people to be awake at that time.Also,what causes such strength at that time,when your supposed to be sedated?

[bollweevil]

I think you should just ask the surgeon, the anesthetist or anesthesiologist who was with him, and anyone else who was in the room straight up, straight out what the heck went on in that operating room. The doctor brought up, the doctor can just explain it - fully, to your satisfaction. You're his mother, he's a minor, and you have a right to know.

[EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN]

As other posters have stated, it is extremely common for adolescent boys to wake up from anesthesia "wild". There are different stages of anesthesia-- Stage III (deep surgical plane anesthesia) which progresses to Stage II as the patient wakes up. Stage II is characterized by dyspohoria, breath-holding, disconjugate gaze, etc. and while the patient may appear to be awake during this time, they are NOT fully recovered from anesthesia. Pulling the endotracheal tube at this time may potentially cause laryngospasm, especially in younger children. We must wait until the patient is fully awake and has reached Stage I before we extubate. The patient should be spontaneously breathing with adequate tidal volumes, have adequate strength, and hopefully be able to follow simple commands. Often younger patients may wake up thrashing before they are breathing adequately or following commands, which is why we are somtimes forced to leave the tube in a few minutes longer and request the help of OR staff to hold the patient down. Hope this was helpful!

EmeraldNYL, CRNA

[CRNAGAL]

I agree with Emerald, teens can wake up hard and strong, especially the boys. It's not uncommon for them to try to turn and lay on their side, or even over onto their stomachs!