2023-08-05 07:00:00
Title: Study Reveals More Patients Experience Consciousness During Resuscitation Than Previously Thought
Subtitle: Findings raise questions about the need for sedation during the lifesaving procedure
Date: [Insert Date]
More patients than expected are experiencing conscious perceptions during resuscitation from cardiac arrest, according to a US-British study called AWARE II. The study revealed that four out of ten individuals who were resuscitated had conscious experiences, including feelings of pressure and pain, hearing voices, and having dream-like or mystical experiences. Contrary to previous assumptions, their brains showed almost normal activity during resuscitation.
Traditionally, doctors believed that patients undergoing resuscitation did not notice the painful rescue measures used to restart the heart, such as cardiac massage, artificial respiration, and electric shocks. As the person is unconscious and not breathing, it was thought that their brain activity would be minimal, and the perception of pain would be switched off.
The new study challenges this notion, suggesting that conscious sensations occur more frequently during resuscitation than previously believed. Only about 1 percent of patients receive sedatives or painkillers during the procedure, typically when they exhibit signs of consciousness. However, the AWARE II study suggests that about 7 percent of cardiac arrest patients may have conscious perceptions.
Led by Sam Parnia from the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University, the researchers examined 567 patients who suffered cardiac arrest and were resuscitated in the hospital. They used various methods to assess whether the patients had any awareness during the procedure, including playing repeated words through headphones and testing their ability to recall them. Additionally, they used a tablet mounted above the patient’s head to see if they could look down and observe images in a floating state.
Of the 53 patients who survived and were interviewed, 11 (39 percent) reported sensations or memories indicative of awareness. Some patients described feeling pressure, pain, or movement during resuscitation, while others recalled dream-like experiences or near-death sensations.
The study suggests that the conscious perceptions observed during resuscitation could be due to the brain receiving blood flow again. The researchers conclude that identifying these patients with conscious perceptions could help in providing targeted sedation to minimize psychological after-effects and potentially improve chances of survival.
The findings have raised questions among experts about the use of sedation during resuscitation, even when patients do not exhibit outward signs of awareness. However, further research is needed to determine if sedation could have a negative impact on survival rates.
The study also highlights the importance of informing patients about the low chances of survival and the high risk of neurological damage that accompany cardiac arrest. While many patients overestimate their chances of a full recovery, the reality is that only 10 percent survive outside of a hospital setting and 20 percent survive in a hospital.
As research continues in this field, the AWARE II study opens up new discussions and considerations regarding resuscitation procedures and the experiences of patients during cardiac arrest.]
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