EEG-assisted titration of propofol infusion during neuroanesthesia: effect of nitrous oxide

Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with propofol is an alternative to standard techniques for neuroanesthesia. The present study compared the hemodynamic and recovery profiles of 46 neurosurgical patients randomly assigned to one of three different anesthetic treatment groups. Group 1 was anesthetized with a TIVA technique in which propofol was titrated using an EEG-assisted quantification method. Group 2 received a similar propofol-based infusion technique in combination with nitrous oxide. Group 3 (control) received a standard anesthetic technique consisting of thiopental, nitrous oxide, fentanyl, and isoflurane. Significantly less propofol was required in group 2 than in group 1 (7.4 +/- 1.9 vs. 9.0 +/- 1.0 mg/kg/h, respectively). The propofol blood concentration at the first appearance of EEG burst suppression was also higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (5.8 +/- 1.1 vs. 4.8 +/- 0.8 microg/ml). However, 25% of the patients in group 2 were treated for hypotension after induction, compared to none in groups 1 and 3. Hypertensive episodes, on the other hand, were more frequent in groups 1 (43%) and 3 (31%) than in group 2 (12%). Time to awakening was significantly shorter in the control group (6 +/- 6 min) than in groups 1 (14 +/- 10 min) or 2 (12 +/- 16 min). In conclusion, titration of propofol to achieve a burst suppressive EEG pattern resulted in a slower emergence from anesthesia than a standard "balanced" technique. Use of nitrous oxide with propofol produced more hypotension during induction; however, its use improved hemodynamic stability during the maintenance period.