Does anaesthesia stop the clock?

Anyone who has undergone general anaesthesia (GA) remembers the strange state of disorientation lasting for quite some time after waking up. Until recently, the idea that one's biological clock had just "paused" for a few hours was not a concept that was considered to explain (part of) this discombobulation. Yet it seems that when we go into the operating room, we come out in another time zone, or rather, time stands still: in other words, GA induces jet-lag. Post-operative recovery may be hindered by circadian disruption and the resulting sleep disturbances, and may also impair mood, alertness, cognitive performance, and even immune function.

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