Anesthesia can cause disturbing sexual hallucinations, leading to lasting psychological trauma

Anesthesia can cause disturbing sexual hallucinations, leading to lasting psychological trauma

Some patients may experience vivid and detailed sexual hallucinations during anesthesia with sedative-hypnotic drugs such as propofol, midazolam, diazepam, and nitrous oxide. Some make suggestive or sexual comments or act out, such as grabbing or kissing medical professionals or touching themselves sexually. Others wake up mistakenly believing they have been sexually assaulted. Why does this…