COAL TOWNSHIP — Anesthesia awareness is a helpless and terrifying feeling that occurs when one is supposed to be completely asleep under full anesthesia during surgery, but the brain is not asleep at all. Some patients who are aware during a surgical procedure may experience discomfort and a great deal of pain.

Anesthesia awareness became a hot topic of conversation and was thrust into the mainstream across the country with the release of the 2007 film “Awake.” Though the film exaggerated the condition, anesthesia awareness is very much a reality that is taken very seriously by anesthesia professionals including those at Shamokin Area Community Hospital (SACH).

The anesthesia staff at SACH utilizes BIS (bispectral index) monitors to prevent awareness during surgery. BIS monitors have been in use during surgeries at the hospital since 2000. Each patient entering the operating room and in need of sedation is monitored with BIS.

JoAnn Sassani, CRNA, nurse manager of anesthesia and same day surgery, said having BIS monitoring at SACH is beneficial to everyone involved. “Patient safety is of the utmost importance here at SACH. We want each and every patient to feel safe and secure when entering our surgical suites for a procedure.

“Feedback has been great since patients understand the need and importance for the device and of course, for anesthesiologists,” added Sassani. “It is a very helpful tool to ensure the safety and comfort of all our patients.”

Sassani explained that the technology of the BIS monitor works by placing a sensor on a patient’s forehead and pressing on it in order to obtain information from electrical brain activity, or EEG (electroencephalogram). The BIS sensor is connected via cable to a brain wave monitor.

The monitor then translates the information into a single number from 100 (indicating the patient is awake) to zero (indicating the absence of brain electrical activity), which represents each patient’s level of consciousness.

Since the BIS monitor displays information from the patient’s brain, telling the anesthesia professional how they are responding to the medication, they can then adjust the medication to ensure that the patient receives appropriate anesthesia. It’s an important resource to ensure patient safety and a positive surgical outcome.

Recent studies have shown that using a BIS monitor during surgeries is an effective method to decrease the risk of the patient being aware during surgery. In the hands of a trained anesthesia professional, use of the BIS monitor reduces the frequency of awareness more than five times.

Due to the focus the media has placed on anesthesia awareness, SACH wants to reintroduce the BIS monitor system to the public. “We want our patients to realize anesthesia today is safer than it ever has been,” said Sassani. “With this added technology, along with the skilled and experienced anesthesia professionals at this hospital, it’s safe to say that patients undergoing sedation here at SACH will be resting easier.”