Incidents of auditory perception during anaesthesia with traumatic sequelae

The literature on auditory perception during anaesthesia, while by no means scarce, presents contradictory experimental findings; its reported prevalence ranges from nil to 80%. Due to their anecdotal nature and lack of control, case histories are difficult to evaluate statistically. Nevertheless, they provide a broader base for the understanding of the phenomenon and its implications. Two case histories are presented, both with traumatic sequelae. In the first case, the anaesthetist confirmed his off-the-cuff utterance that was perceived by the patient and retained in the anaesthetized patient's memory and acted upon by the patient postoperatively. A possible explanation of auditory perception and its behavioural characteristics are outlined. A suggestion is offered for the potential beneficial application of auditory perception during anaesthesia.