Sentinel Event Alert 32: Preventing, and managing the impact of, anesthesia awareness

This Sentinel Event Alert has been retired as of June 2016. Current guidance is provided in the following resources:

• Intraoperative Awareness: From Neurobiology to Clinical Practice. Mashour A, et al. Anesthesiology. May 2011;114(5):1218-1233.
  
  
• Prevention of Intraoperative Awareness in a High-Risk Surgical Population. Avidan MS, et al. New England Journal of Medicine. August 18, 2011;365(7):591-600.
  
  
• Delirium: A Cognitive Cost of the Comfort of Procedural Sedation in Elderly Patients Crosby G, et al. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. January 2010;85(1):12-14.
  
  Note: Retired Alerts are not available for any purpose, including for educational, research or legal purposes. Questions should be directed to The Joint Commission’s Legal Department at 630-792-5671.