Waking up in the OR

When my daughter was 5 years old, she had a T&A. From the time of her surgery to now (8 years later) she insists she woke up during the procedure. I always tried to pass it off as nothing. I would tell her it was probably the very beginning of the surgery when they would roll you in the OR and then start sedation.
Now that she is older she adamantly insists that she was asleep and when she woke up she seen them in their garb and scalpels in hand, They told her it was okay and to go back to sleep.

They never told me after the surgery she woke up. I never asked, really thinking my daughter was confused. It doesn't appear she suffered any mental anguish or anything. She just states it as fact. I believe her now, because she has been so consistent with her story for such a long time.

However, if she did wake up, shouldn't they had said something? I know that getting the right med combination can be tricky, I have done conscience sedation in pediatrics alot in the ER. However, for any future surgery this would be good to know and report off, so that it can be handled better in a more invasive case.
Here's my politically incorrect, but very truthful answer from an ICU RN point of view: What happens in O.R. stays in O.R. O.R. staff can be very tight lipped about what goes on back there. Usually, but not always, the anesthesiologist will stop by after and ask a few questions if the patient remembered anything from the procedure.

I don't think they needed to tell you but if you asked and they lied that is different.

She just states it as fact. I believe her now, because she has been so consistent with her story for such a long time.

I have a foot problem and have had foot surgery multiple times. I have a close relationship with my podiatrist from seeing him so often. He told me that during my last surgery I kept sitting up trying to grab my foot, and was telling him that it hurt. I don't remember any of this, and he told me without me asking.It probably happens more than people realize. At least your daughter is not disturbed by it.

Quote from blacksunflowerI have a foot problem and have had foot surgery multiple times. I have a close relationship with my podiatrist from seeing him so often. He told me that during my last surgery I kept sitting up trying to grab my foot, and was telling him that it hurt. I don't remember any of this, and he told me without me asking.It probably happens more than people realize. At least your daughter is not disturbed by it.

I woke up as I was being stitched up during my emergency c section, I was intubated and remember gagging frantically and trying to bend forward to sit up. Luckily I don't remember any pain, they never mentioned this to me and I just never thought to bring it up, I wonder what they would have said if I did?They did mention as soon as they extubated me I was screaming because I thought the baby died, I don't remember this though, thankfully.

Quote from calinurse11I woke up as I was being stitched up during my emergency c section, I was intubated and remember gagging frantically and trying to bend forward to sit up. Luckily I don't remember any pain, they never mentioned this to me and I just never thought to bring it up, I wonder what they would have said if I did?They did mention as soon as they extubated me I was screaming because I thought the baby died, I don't remember this though, thankfully.

While there are cases where people have woken up during surgery, I don't think it was the case with your daughter. If she is describing seeing scalpels I think this was probably a dream she was having under anesthesia. We don't use scalpels on T&A procedures.

Quote from TakeTwoAspirinWhile there are cases where people have woken up during surgery, I don't think it was the case with your daughter. If she is describing seeing scalpels I think this was probably a dream she was having under anesthesia. We don't use scalpels on T&A procedures.

Quote from TakeTwoAspirinWhile there are cases where people have woken up during surgery, I don't think it was the case with your daughter. If she is describing seeing scalpels I think this was probably a dream she was having under anesthesia. We don't use scalpels on T&A procedures.

I've had patients tell me they woke up or could hear people in the OR talking or whatever. They don't ever seem too upset by it.

Yes she did wake up at some point, saw the surgeon, they said it is okay go back to sleep, she did go back to sleep. Should they have mentioned it to you? Of all the horrible things that can and do happen with T&A's I think a minor "I woke up...went back to sleep" incident would, I hope, be readily forgotten by the OR staff so they could focus on....is she bleeding, is her heart rate and oxygen level good, are we maintaining fire safety, is everything sterile, etc.Are you concerned that in future surgeries she might need more or different sedation because she woke up during the T&A? If you want you could request her medical record and find out what they used? Anesthesia and sedation has changed over the past 8 years and continues to change. I can't see any reason to give it a second thought?