When anaesthesia fails.

A harrowing look at the real-life experiences of people who have regained consciousness during surgery but because of paralytic drugs have been unable to move and alert the attention of surgeons. The programme includes an outline of the techniques of modern anaesthesia, a complex balance of drugs which if not applied perfectly can lead to what is known as anaesthetic awareness. We hear the stories of people who have been conscious through surgery about their memories of the event and the way it has affected their lives since. Anaesthesiologists also talk about their work.