title: Consciousness fluctuation during general anesthesia: a theoretical approach to anesthesia awareness and memory modulation.
abstract: With anesthesia awareness as a model of study we debate the both fascinating and dangerous phenomenon called consciousness fluctuation that takes place during surgical anesthesia. In accordance with current scientific knowledge this paradox is the consequence of our limits in both precise knowledge of anesthesia mechanisms and our inability to accurately assess the level of anesthesia with brain monitoring. We also focus on the relationships between memory and anesthesia, as well as the possibility of interfering with memory during general anesthesia.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesia, Endoscopy and Cardiology , Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale" - IRCCS , Naples , Italy ;
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cascella
authors.affiliation: b Division of Anesthesia and Intensive Care , Hospital "Pineta Grande" , Castel Volturno , Italy ;
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schiavone
authors.affiliation: c Division of Infantile Neuropsychiatry , UOMI - Maternal and Infant Health , Torre del Greco , Naples , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Muzio
authors.affiliation: a Division of Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesia, Endoscopy and Cardiology , Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale" - IRCCS , Naples , Italy ;
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuomo
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D003243:Consciousness; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D058926:Intraoperative Awareness; D008568:Memory
keywords: Consciousness monitors; Evoked potentials, auditory; Intraoperative awareness; Intraoperative monitoring; Mental recall