If someone is under general anesthesia for 5 hours, how long does it take for them to "snap out of it"?

Question

My dad was under for 5 hours and still seems in a daze, and it's been 5 days since he was under.

Answer 1

that soundsa normal. i was under over 6 hrs 3 years ago and was pretty out of it for more than a week. but if you have concerns give his dr a call it wont hurt

Answer 2

:) I think no one can actually answer this question, except to say: no one alive who can post a reply knows what death is like; true death is unknown to the living. One cannot really compare an unknown with a known state, even if the description seems agreeable. Even if one DID "die" (and was revived), we do not know if getting a little dead is exactly like being 100% dead with (one hopes) all connection to corpse severed... Some general anathesias work by disrupting memory functions; you simply have no memories of whatever stimuli your body may have endured while under the anesthia... Therefore, anesthia IS analogous, very directly, with brain and memory impairments... Can one suffer when one has no awareness or memory of it? ... This has practical implications not just for :) medical practice like surgury and law but also for concerns about Alzheimer's patients, and many other situations.... It also has some other philosophical implications; if someone has no memory of their actions, can it be moral or immoral? What if the person has no memory of someone ELSE's actions? Is evil merely an opinion, or a judgment which requires some consciousness' awareness? Personally I think that a tree that falls in the forest does make a sound. Aside from anesthia, shock can have similar effects; the body defends the mind when overwhelmed; even with effort, I cannot recall moment-by-moment a serious accident; and minds have another defense, against the distress of loss of awareness; the descriptions offered by others who witnessed the accident ARE now in my memory, and it would be easy to ignore logical discrepancies, such as, how can I remember seeing from this visual perspective, when I could never have seen it myself? Memory is a fascinating thing... The link below may interest you, if you agree with that opinion...

Answer 3

Is he on medication that could contribute to the "daze"? Is he in pain, which could make him kind of "tune out"?

I think how long it takes for someone to really seem regular (if you rule out post-op medications) can depend on the person, the anesthesia, the type of surgery, and other factors.

This is a question you should just ask the doctor directly if you haven't.

Answer 4

I know with my last cancer surgery...when I was under the anesthesia....they were not able to wake me up for 3 days on the third day...they were pretty worried about me...even now I still have a hard time waking up from it

Answer 5

5 minutes to 12 days I think... yes... some people take a couple weeks.

If your very concerned have it checked if this is a negative/allergic reaction. Not that anyone ever admits but make a note to yourself and your father,.. and everyone in the family that this happened and make sure to remember this next time so they know he has such a reaction.

Answer 6

depends on type of general anesthesia was used(brand of med/type administered) also if any post op meds were given they could be causing his "daze"

Answer 7

He may of had an allergic reaction to it...just be patient, let the doctor know of his actions, he should come around.

Answer 8

http://anesthesia.mc.duke.edu/dream/dreamcampaign/know/side_effects.html

Answer 9

he is still in pain