The Effect of Dexmedetomidine versus Midazolam on Awareness in Cesarean Section under General Anesthesia

Abstract

Intraoperative awareness is a potentially psychologically devastating complication of anesthesia associated with a high incidence of psychological sequalae, with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSDs) being the most severe and causing high public concern, increases patients’ apprehension of surgery and leads to medical-legal issues regarding anesthesia (Leslie et al., 2010). Cesarean section (CS) under general anesthesia renders parturient patients at increased risk of inadequate anesthesia resulting in intraoperative awareness and subsequent recall higher than that reported in a general surgical population (Sandin et al., 2000).