Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 1/30/2008

Question
A friend of mine had surgery (Masectomy and recontruction)and has had a total of 8 hours in 3 months of anesthetic.   She is since been having problems with her memory.   Could this be the effects of the anesthetic?


Answer
Not likely. In general there may be some perioperative amnesia but if the memory loss extends before that (or more importantly after), then she should probably be seen by a neurologist to make sure there is no other organic cause.

Good Luck,

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston