Waking up in the OR

To a kid, anything a surgeon's hand could be "scalpel", I think you're hugely overestimating a 5-year-old's knowledge of surgical equipment.

I'm not the one that used the word scalpel, the OP did and I'm not overestimating (or underestimating) anything just responding to the description provided by the OP. Having raised two kids of my own, and being in the process of helping to raise 4 grandkids, it would not be an estimation of any kind to state that even children this age know the difference between a pen and a knife. If this child had said they saw a pen in the surgeon's hand, I would categorically state that I believe this child did wake up at some point. By the time an average child reaches 5 years they have a vocabulary of anywhere between 2,000 and 2,200 words. This is adequate to describe the difference between a knife and a pen (which is what an ESU cautery device looks like) Rather than overestimating the intelligence and vocabulary of this child, I would respectfully suggest that you are underestimating them. A five year old pretty much knows that they have seen and experienced and this description simply doesn't fit.

I woke up as I was being stitched up during my emergency c section, I was intubated and remember gagging frantically and trying to bend forward to sit up. Luckily I don't remember any pain, they never mentioned this to me and I just never thought to bring it up, I wonder what they would have said if I did?

They did mention as soon as they extubated me I was screaming because I thought the baby died, I don't remember this though, thankfully.

Unfortunately trauma, OB, and heart surgery run the greatest risk of recall do to the emergent nature of the surgeries and the limitations on types of anesthetics that can be used.

Yes, my daughter mentioned scapel. However, since we didn't have TV at that time, I doubt she even knew what a scapel was. If it was a cautery that could have been what she thought was a scapel. as for being intubated, I doubt she was. I don't do OR, so I don't know, do they normally intubated with an OPA with a T&A? I am thinking of the mechanics can they even get to the Tonsils with an ETT in place? I don't know just asking.

I'm not the one that used the word scalpel, the OP did and I'm not overestimating (or underestimating) anything just responding to the description provided by the OP. Having raised two kids of my own, and being in the process of helping to raise 4 grandkids, it would not be an estimation of any kind to state that even children this age know the difference between a pen and a knife. If this child had said they saw a pen in the surgeon's hand, I would categorically state that I believe this child did wake up at some point. By the time an average child reaches 5 years they have a vocabulary of anywhere between 2,000 and 2,200 words. This is adequate to describe the difference between a knife and a pen (which is what an ESU cautery device looks like) Rather than overestimating the intelligence and vocabulary of this child, I would respectfully suggest that you are underestimating them. A five year old pretty much knows that they have seen and experienced and this description simply doesn't fit.

When my daughter was 5 years old, she had a T&A. From the time of her surgery to now (8 years later) she insists she woke up during the procedure. I always tried to pass it off as nothing. I would tell her it was probably the very beginning of the surgery when they would roll you in the OR and then start sedation.

Now that she is older she adamantly insists that she was asleep and when she woke up she seen them in their garb and scalpels in hand, They told her it was okay and to go back to sleep.

They never told me after the surgery she woke up. I never asked, really thinking my daughter was confused. It doesn't appear she suffered any mental anguish or anything. She just states it as fact. I believe her now, because she has been so consistent with her story for such a long time.

However, if she did wake up, shouldn't they had said something? I know that getting the right med combination can be tricky, I have done conscience sedation in pediatrics alot in the ER. However, for any future surgery this would be good to know and report off, so that it can be handled better in a more invasive case.

We tape their eyes routinely and she i say routinely I mean every time. She may have had a bad dream mixed with anxiety from the procedure. Did she have ketamine? It can cause hallucinations. Did she have versed with the ketamine? If not then this could be the cause. If she had oral versed right before going back it would not have time to counteract the ketamine side affects.

We also perform these procedures with LMAs and not always with an ETT. These are quick procedures an I try to get them breathing again on their own ASAP.

My mother died with anxiety over how my sister, 23+ years ago, woke up during an exploratory surgery before she was scheduled to have open heart.

I even remember my sister talking about it happening for several years. Until she was about four or five. And then she stopped talking about it. You ask her now and she can't remember it. My mom carried that memory to her grave. Unnecessarily, in my opinion.

Unfortunately trauma, OB, and heart surgery run the greatest risk of recall do to the emergent nature of the surgeries and the limitations on types of anesthetics that can be used.

Absolutely, they were extremely rushed. Thinking about this happening during heart or trauma surgery makes me cringe!

My mother died with anxiety over how my sister, 23+ years ago, woke up during an exploratory surgery before she was scheduled to have open heart.

I even remember my sister talking about it happening for several years. Until she was about four or five. And then she stopped talking about it. You ask her now and she can't remember it. My mom carried that memory to her grave. Unnecessarily, in my opinion.

Now that is truly horrific

Example of the draping. Eyes taped and towel wrapped around.

Example of the draping. Eyes taped and towel wrapped around.

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Hey thanks

Waking up during surgery does happen, I think it's usually called "anesthesia awareness". I used to get ear tubes about once a year or two when I was a kid. I had no idea that you weren't supposed to be fully aware of what was going on around you when under anesthesia, but I often was, and it really wasn't all that distressing. I had mentioned it once and it was dismissed as dreaming. It wasn't until the surgeon wigged out when I mentioned I liked the music he played, particularly "Cecilia" since my parents wouldn't let me listen to it, that I realized it wasn't normal. I remember him telling my mom he didn't see how that was possible since by the time Cecilia came on the 8-track or whatever he was playing he was well under way with surgery and I should have been completely out. I didn't feel any pain so it really didn't bother me. I don't know if that was why, but when I was older they started using ketamine, which was way worse, I remember as it was wearing off I would see people but their facial features weren't defined, that still freaks me out.

Here's what everyone looks like to me when coming off of ketamine: