Research progress in emergence agitation during general anesthesia

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.10.011

Abstract

Abstract:

Emergence agitation (EA) following general anesthesia is a common postoperative complication, characterized primarily by disorientation, a dissociation between consciousness and behavior, and non-purposeful restlessness. It not only significantly increases the risk of perioperative adverse events such as accidental extubation and surgical site bleeding, but also increases the medical and nursing burden, and may cause long-term neurocognitive impairment in patients. The occurrence of EA results from the interaction of patient-related factors, anesthetic agents, and surgery-related stimuli, and the complexity of its etiology poses considerable challenges to clinical management. Traditional strategies predominantly rely on the empirical use of medications such as dexmedetomidine and propofol for prevention and treatment, yet early identification of high-risk populations and individualized pharmacological regimens remain limited. In recent years, research on EA has made notable progress. Multidimensional explorations of its pathogenesis have provided potential targets for precise clinical intervention. Meanwhile, objective indicators such as metabolic and inflammatory markers and electroencephalographic (EEG) features have improved risk prediction to a certain degree. Furthermore, certain non-pharmacological measures have also demonstrated favorable application prospects. This review aims to systematically summarize the risk factors, pathophysiological mechanisms, predictive indicators, assessment tools, and prevention and treatment strategies for EA, and to integrate evidence-based medical evidence to clarify the key points of individualized management across different patient populations and surgical types, thereby providing a reference for anesthesiologists in formulating EA prevention and control strategies and promoting the prevention and treatment of EA toward precision and standardization.

Key words: emergence agitation (EA), general anesthesia, pathophysiological mechanism, risk prediction, prevention, treatment

CLC Number:

R614.2

Luo Ji, Zhao Zhiying, Yang Qianzi, Luo Yan. Research progress in emergence agitation during general anesthesia[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science), 2026,(10): 1412-1419.

Figures/Tables 1

TrendMD

References 65

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