Related Experiment Videos
Propofol and spontaneous movements: an EEG study.
A Borgeat1, C Dessibourg, V Popovic
1Service d'Anesthésiologie-Réanimation, Hôpital Cantonal Fribourg, Switzerland.
Anesthesiology
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Propofol anesthesia in children can cause spontaneous movements, particularly at lower doses. These movements, characterized as dystonic and choreiform, correlate with specific electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns during induction.
Area of Science:
- Anesthesiology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Neurophysiology
Background:
- Spontaneous movements during anesthesia induction are common in children.
- The underlying mechanisms and electroencephalogram (EEG) correlates are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spontaneous movements during propofol or thiopental anesthesia induction in children.
- To analyze the relationship between these movements and EEG changes.
Main Methods:
- 21 children (6-12 yr) were randomized to propofol (3 or 5 mg/kg) or thiopental (5-7 mg/kg).
- EEG was recorded during induction and post-intubation.
- Spontaneous movements were videotaped and analyzed by a neurologist.
Main Results:
- Spontaneous movements occurred in all children receiving 3 mg/kg propofol, versus 14% in the higher dose propofol and thiopental groups.
- EEG showed a consistent pattern of alpha to beta wave transition, followed by delta waves, then reappearing beta waves.
- All observed movements were dystonic and choreiform, coinciding with delta wave activity on EEG.
Conclusions:
- Lower dose propofol (3 mg/kg) is associated with a higher incidence of spontaneous movements during induction in children.
- These movements appear to originate from subcortical structures, as indicated by their dystonic nature and the absence of cortical epileptic activity on EEG.