Dissociative Anesthesia Research Paper

Dissociative anesthesia is a form of anesthesia characterized by catalepsy, catatonia, analgesia, and amnesia. It does not necessarily involve loss of consciousness and thus does not always imply a state of general anesthesia.

• The primary site of action is in the cortex and subcortical areas; not in the reticular activ ating system (site of action of barbiturates).
• Respiration is not depressed, airway reflexes are maintained, muscle tone increases; limb movements occur and eyes may remain open.
• Heart rate, cardiac output and BP are elevated due to sympathetic stimulation
• Emergence delirium, hallucinations and involuntary occurs in upto 50% patients during recovery; but the injection is not painful.