title: [Transient global amnesia after general anaesthesia].
abstract: Transient global amnesia is a neurological syndrome in which there is a sudden and brief inability to form new memories, as well as an intense retrograde amnesia. However, awareness, personal identity and attention remain intact. It is an uncommon condition seen after an anaesthetic procedure. There are several aetiopathogenic hypotheses (epileptic, migrainous or ischaemic origin) and triggering factors (pain, anxiety, temperature changes, exercise, Valsalva manoeuvres, diagnostic tests or certain drugs). We describe the case of a patient with a high level of pre-operative anxiety who suffered an episode of transient global amnesia after undergoing otolaryngology surgery. With an acute and continued amnesia after general anaesthesia, the first thing that must be done is to establish a suitable differencial diagnosis, which should include transient global amnesia, as this is mainly an exclusion diagnosis. Preoperative anxiety may be a triggering factor to take into account in this condition, with anxiolytic treatment prior to the surgery being important.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Fuenlabrada, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galipienzo
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lablanca
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zannin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosado
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zarza
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olarra
mesh_terms: D060666:Airway Extubation / Q000009:adverse effects; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D020236:Amnesia, Transient Global / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000009:adverse effects; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D003560:Cysts / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology