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Reza Gorji, MD
Fenghua Li, MD

Answers:
Delayed emergence from anesthesia is usually defined as failure to regain consciousness after 20-minutes. Recognition of delayed emergence is important so as to treat the underlying etiology as some may be correctable.

Causes of delayed emergence:

  1. Drug overdose including anesthetics, neuromuscular drugs and narcotics
  2. Respiratory issues: hypoxia and hypercapnia
  3. Metabolic issues: extremes glucose levels, electrolyte imbalance, severe hypothyroidism
  4. Hypotension
  5. Hypothermia
  6. Neurologic issues: cerebral hemorrhage and/or edema, epilepsy, pneuomocephalus
  7. Anticholinergic syndrome

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