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Anesthesiology/Dreams in different states
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Question
Dr. Jackson
Do people dream while anesthetized? Also what about in a coma? What about in a vegetative state?
Thank you
Rob
Wrong person to ask about coma and vegetative state - this is outside my expertise but I susepct the answer is that we don't know for certain but by definition the frontal lobes will be showing little or no activity and so dreaming should not be possible.
My info is that people dream during REM sleep which doesn't happen under anaesthesia. People remember dreams of they are very nearly awake or do awaken transiently during their REM sleep.
having said all this I always chat to my patients about what they want to dream about and a proportion wake up saying they had a lovely dream about what we had been discussing. This may just happen as the anaesthesia wears off ut I remain unconvinced about it all.
Sorry can't help any more than that
Dr Ian Jackson
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Answers by Expert:
Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based
Expertise
I am a Consultant Anaesthetist in the UK. My interests include ambulatory or day surgery, obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia, acute pain management (use of epidurals and patient controlled analgesia)anaesthesia for surgery on the airway, orthopaedics and most things except brains and hearts. Interest in prehospital care of trauma and provision of medical cover at motorsport events.
Experience
Organizations
European Society of Regional Anaesthesia
British Association of Day Surgery
Obstetric Anaesthetists Association
Association of Anaesthetists
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