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How the brain loses and regains consciousness

A new study tracked brain activity in human volunteers as they lost and regained consciousness, revealing distinctive patterns linked to different stages of general anesthesia. The findings could improve monitoring systems used during surgery, reducing the risk of rare cases where patients wake up during operations.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 4, 2013

Anesthesia drugs really do put us to sleep

Researchers found that anesthesia drugs like isoflurane boost activity in a part of the brain that increases during natural sleep, forcing important sleep circuits to fire. This finding could lead to a deeper understanding of how anesthetics work and potentially improve treatment options for patients.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 25, 2012

Surgery more profound effect than anesthesia on brain pathology, cognition in Alzheimer's mice

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that surgery itself has a profound impact on brain pathology and cognition in mice with human Alzheimer disease genes. Surgery causes a lasting increase in Alzheimer's pathology and significant cognitive impairment, primarily through inflammation.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAnnals of Surgery·DateSep 14, 2012

Regional anesthesia reduces complications and death for hip fracture patients

Researchers found that regional anesthesia was associated with a significant reduction in major pulmonary complications and death among hip fracture patients. The use of regional anesthesia versus general anesthesia resulted in a 29% lower adjusted odds of mortality and a 24% decrease in the adjusted odds of any inpatient pulmonary com...

How does exercise affect nerve pain?

Exercise significantly reduces neuropathic pain severity and inflammation-promoting cytokine expression in rats with sciatic nerve injury. This study provides evidence that exercise can be a helpful, non-pharmacological therapy for managing neuropathic pain.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalAnesthesia & Analgesia·DateJun 1, 2012

EEG pattern reflects brain's shift into low-energy, protective mode

A mathematical model predicts and explains the emergence of burst suppression, a low-activity state in response to reduced cellular energy. The study suggests that burst suppression may be used to guide induced coma and track recovery from brain injuries, offering new insights into brain neurochemistry and neurophysiology.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 10, 2012

Mayo Clinic study: multiple surgeries and anesthesia exposure

Researchers found that children exposed to general anesthesia and surgery before their second birthday were approximately three times as likely to develop speech and language problems compared to those who never underwent procedures. The study, published in Pediatrics, suggests that anesthesia exposure may affect brain development and ...

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateOct 3, 2011

Penn study sheds light on how the brain shifts between sleep/awake states under anesthesia

A new study published in PLoS One reveals that the brain shifts between sleep/awake states under anesthesia through different processes. The researchers identified a fundamental state called neural inertia, which explains the brain's resistance to changes in consciousness. This finding may lead to the development of novel anesthetic dr...

Brain responses during anesthesia mimic those during natural deep sleep

Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison reported finding brain response patterns similar to those during natural deep sleep under anesthesia. The study suggests that loss of consciousness may be linked to a breakdown in cortical connectivity, lending support to the integrated information theory of consciousness.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 27, 2010

Lighter sedation for elderly during surgery may reduce risk of confusion, disorientation after

A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests that limiting the depth of sedation during procedures could safely cut the risk of postoperative delirium by 50 percent. Lighter sedation was associated with a one-day reduction in the duration of delirium in those patients who still emerged from surgery confused and disoriented.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateJan 21, 2010

2 different neural pathways regulate loss and regain of consciousness during general anesthesia

Scientists have identified two separate neural pathways that regulate the transition in and out of anesthesia. The study found that mice with impaired orexin signaling took longer to emerge from general anesthesia, but not to fall asleep during the procedure. This breakthrough could lead to new approaches for administering anesthetics ...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 11, 2008

Patients may have sweet and effective way to prepare for upper GI endoscopy: an anesthetic lollipop

A study found that administering a lidocaine lollipop reduced the need for sedation in the majority of patients undergoing upper endoscopy, improving patient comfort and reducing potential side effects. The lollipop proved safe and well-tolerated, making it a promising alternative to conventional lidocaine sprays.

SourceAmerican Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy·JournalGastrointestinal Endoscopy·DateOct 16, 2007

Mayo Clinic real-time 3-D ultrasound speeds patient recovery

Mayo Clinic physicians have developed a new technique using real-time 3-D ultrasound to block nerve function in selected areas of the body prior to surgery. This allows patients to recover faster and with less need for pain medication. The technique has been successfully used in over 150 surgeries, showing improved outcomes for patients.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalAnesthesia & Analgesia·DateJul 13, 2007