Feasibility of a Multicomponent Protocol to Promote Dreaming during Surgical Anesthesia
Anesthesiology February 3, 2026 Pilleriin Sikka, May Ching Ngo, Sherry Hu et al. 1 citation
A standardized propofol-based anesthesia protocol with EEG monitoring and verbal priming about dreaming led 69% of 452 surgical patients to report dreaming, and 93% of those who received all protocol elements did so. Most dreams were positive (86%), and dreamers reported higher subjective sleep quality than nondreamers. The protocol was safe, with no intraoperative awareness, and recovery times and medication use did not differ between groups. Adherence was high for most elements but low for the no-stimulation emergence period. The approach is feasible in routine clinical care and aligns with Enhanced Recovery After Surgery principles.