The Lingering Effects of Anesthesia

Question:  Why have I heard that polio survivors shouldn’t be sent home immediately after having any anesthesia?

    1st Comment: I've taken to telling anesthesiologist that if they insist on "moderate" sedation they should plan on me being overnight. I'm tired of being dressed by a nurse and carted out to my car to go home and sleep for the next 24 hours completely unaware!

    2nd Comment:  I had a colonoscopy and told the anesthesiologist about PPS. I drove my car to the clinic, my neighbor brought me home and I fell asleep. Around 9:30 PM I woke up but I fell asleep again, this time in a chair close to my driveway. Around 11:00 PM I woke up to flashing lights and looked outside and saw yellow tape around my property. I started to go outside but saw a large truck I thought was a gas truck so I went to bed. My phone started ringing around 6:00 AM. There had been a neighborhood shooting, part of which happened close to my driveway.  I slept through the entire thing only 30 feet from my window thanks to colonoscopy anesthesia. I will never go home after anesthesia again.    

Dr. Bruno’s Response:  Sadly, these two stories about the lingering effects of anesthesia in polio survivors are not unusual. Please see “Preventing Complications in Polio Survivors Undergoing Surgery” and other Anesthesia information here: Anesthesia

Richard L. Bruno, HD, PhD

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Polio Damaged Neurons

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Breathing Issues and Phrenic Nerve Pacemakers