A Briton woke up in full operation, because she had not received enough anesthesia.
- Barbara Tite woke up when she was operated on for a perforation of the intestine.
- This is called an accidental awareness. It is linked to an insufficient dose of anesthesia.
- This incident caused him a post-traumatic stress disorder (TSPT). She asked for compensation as well as a specialized assistance.
Barbara Tite, 67, underwent more than 40 surgeries during her life, almost all linked to a serious car accident that occurred 20 years ago or to the diagnosis of a brain tumor in 2017. But his most traumatic operation turns out to be an intervention for a perforation of the intestine carried out last June. The Briton regained consciousness when she was still under the scalpel of doctors, because the dose of anesthesia received was not sufficient.
She confided in this trying experience at the Bbc March 2, 2025.
An accidental awareness during anesthesia as “horror films”
The operation for intestinal perforation of Barbara Tite at Milton Keynes General Hospital began in a normal way. The patient remembers having been installed in the operating room and having been anesthetized.
“The next moment, I was aware”says the senior to the British media. “It was an accidental awareness during anesthesia. You know what’s going on around you, but you are completely paralyzed.” It was a traumatic experience for her. The sixty -something man had the impression of being “Buried underground” and to live the “Worse nightmare – the kind of thing that is made of horror films”.
Barbara finally managed to move her right hand. This warned the medical team of their awakening and anesthesia has been increased. The operation continued without further incident and the perforation of the intestine was successfully treated. However, the incident did not remain without consequences for the patient.
Wake up during anesthesia: she suffers from a post-traumatic stress disorder
If Barbara has not encountered any complications or physical sequel of her operation, she assures that the accidental awareness incident caused her a post-traumatic stress disorder (TSPT). She requests compensation in the hospital as well as aid for her anxiety disorder.
Questioned by the BBC, the spokesperson for the health establishment assured: “We are deeply sorry that Ms. Tite was in distress when she was under our care last June. Each patient must feel safe when he is in our hospital.”
“We think that she felt a feeling of awareness when she came out of anesthesia at the end of her operation, and we fully recognize how difficult it was for her, especially in the light of her history.”
