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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Infant Auditory Processing and Event-related Brain Oscillations
Published on: July 1, 2015
Midlatency auditory evoked potentials in children: effect of age and general anaesthesia
M Daunderer1, M S Feuerecker, B Scheller
1Clinic for Anaesthesiology, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Nussbaumstr. 20, D-80336 Munich, Germany. dr.daunderer@web.de
Insights
Midlatency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEP) can be recorded in children over age 2 during anesthesia. MLAEP latencies increase with anesthesia but return to baseline, suggesting potential monitoring applications.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Midlatency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEP) show promise for monitoring anesthesia-induced sensory processing suppression.
- Understanding MLAEP changes in children during general anesthesia is crucial for preventing awareness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility and characteristics of MLAEP in children aged 2-12 years during general anesthesia.
- To determine if MLAEP can be reliably recorded and interpreted in pediatric patients under anesthetic conditions.
Main Methods:
- MLAEP were recorded in 49 children (age 2-12 years) before anesthesia, during intubation, at steady-state anesthesia, and after extubation.
- Analysis focused on MLAEP latencies and amplitudes across different anesthetic stages.
Main Results:
- MLAEP were successfully recorded in all awake children, with age-dependent latency.
- Significant increases in MLAEP latency were observed during tracheal intubation and steady-state anesthesia.
- Amplitudes showed inconsistent changes, and all MLAEP variables returned to baseline post-extubation.
Conclusions:
- MLAEP are recordable in children over 2 years old during general anesthesia.
- While MLAEP show potential for monitoring, further research is needed for clinical application in pediatric anesthesia.
Background:
Midlatency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEP) are a promising tool for monitoring suppression of sensory processing during anaesthesia and might help to avoid awareness. MLAEP in children are different to those in adults and the exact changes during general anaesthesia are unknown.
Methods:
In 49 children of age between 2 and 12 yr, MLAEP were recorded before anaesthesia, during tracheal intubation, at steady-state balanced anaesthesia, and after extubation.
Results:
MLAEP were recordable in all children in the awake (premedicated) state with latencies but not amplitudes dependent on children's age. MLAEP latencies significantly increased during tracheal intubation and steady-state anaesthesia. Changes in amplitudes were inconsistent. All MLAEP variables returned to near baseline values after extubation.
Conclusions:
The results of this study imply that MLAEP can successfully be recorded during anaesthesia in children above the age of 2 yr. Further studies are necessary before MLAEP might be applicable for monitoring purposes in paediatric anaesthesia.
