Dr. Rowan Molnar – The relation between anaesthesia and states of consciousness

General anaesthesia has evolved significantly over time and has transformed surgery into something of a gentle slumber from a patient’s point of view. There are several new techniques being developed for imaging the brain and recording its electrical impulses during anaesthesia. Several studies aim at understanding the relationship between anaesthetics and consciousness and how it might interrupt consciousness.  Altered consciousness is a condition that occurs during general anaesthesia and when anyone falls asleep. However, an anaesthetic does allow the specialist anaesthetist to safely manipulate consciousness safely. For the most part, an anaesthetist has one of the most critical tasks during and after surgery in keeping patients comfortable with the least amount of pain. Most patients experience a state of drowsiness similar to drunkenness prior to falling unconscious in the pre-surgery state.

Anaesthesia usually commences with an injection of drugs like propofol, which allows for a smooth and rapid transition to a state of unconsciousness. Following this, an inhaled anaesthetic is usually administered for better control of the depth of anaesthesia. Today, the list of anaesthetic agents range from complex steroids and other drugs to inert gases such as xenon. Brain imaging techniques are being used to track changes in blood flow to different areas of the brain to determine what areas of the brain are affected by anaesthetics. Dr. Rowan Molnar has decades of global experience as a specialist anaesthetist in critical care and trauma medicine and is at the forefront of many clinical studies. In addition to holding various positions at major medical institutions in the USA and Australia he was also an Editorial Reviewer at Journal Anaesthesia and Intensive Care.