Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 9/6/2008

Question
My 78 year old mother was caregiver for my father and had a nervous breakdown and then fracture to discs in her back.  Seemed mentally to be okay after that but in much pain.  Her back did not heal so a procedure was done to fix it.  The procedure went well, she even walked after it.  She mentally has not been well after the anesthesia, very violent, yelling, hallucinating, paranoid, the list goes on.  She has somewhat calmed down, but she is not anywhere near mentally to where she was before and now mentally cannot care for herself.  Is there any hope that she mentally come back to normal? It has already been 4 weeks. Or could her current meds she was and is taking have a reaction to the anesthesia?   Thanks for your help!  I miss having a intelligent conversation with my mom!  Jo Ann

Answer
I doubt it is the anesthesia that is causing these reactions. Has she been seen by her PCP or a neurologist? There is nothing in the anesthesia that could have these kinds of long term effects. You said that she had a nervous breakdown prior to the surgery. This is more likely the instigating event here. In any case, she should be evaluated and perhaps have a CT scan to make sure there is nothing organic going on.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston