Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 9/10/2010

Question
I was given 5mg versed with 4 of fentanyl today for a procedure, however nothing worked. I did have some issues with my O2 saturation, but I was wide awake and aware of everything occurring in the OR. My O2 sats dropped to 87, but b/p and pulse remained WNL. The whole time I was A&O x 4. I am still wide awake with a little nauseous feeling and it has been 8 hours since I was given all the medications. The nurses and Doctors were stunned by this. I weigh 148.8, female and with the exception of a recent Lupus diagnosis, I am healthy. I need to know if this is something I should be concerned about in the future. I will need more procedures similar to the one I had today, but I don't like the fact that my O2 sats dropped and I remained completely lucid throughout the whole ordeal. I will add that my anxiety level was elevated, which I feel is normal with any patient. But now I am fearful of future anesthesia. Please let me know if you have heard of this happening before.  

Answer
I don't know what kind of procedure you had but it is not unusual for you to have those symptoms. The fact that you sat dropped means that the medicines were working. There is always a combination of meds that will sedate or anesthetize you properly. Make sure to tell the next anesthesiologist what happened so they can adjust your meds They might add Propofol or Ketamine or just change the relative amounts of the drugs you got before). There is nothing to be fearful of.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston