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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Induction of an Isoelectric Brain State to Investigate the Impact of Endogenous Synaptic Activity on Neuronal Excitability In Vivo
Published on: March 31, 2016
Prospective study comparing skin impedance with EEG parameters during the induction of anaesthesia with fentanyl and
Michael Winterhalter1, S Münte, M Gerhard
1University of Düsseldorf, Department of Anaesthesiology, Moorenstr.5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. Michael.Winterhalter@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
Objective:
Sympathetic stimulation leads to a change in electrical skin impedance. So far it is unclear whether this effect can be used to measure the effects of anaesthetics during general anaesthesia. The aim of this prospective study is to determine the electrical skin impedance during induction of anaesthesia for coronary artery bypass surgery with fentanyl and etomidate.
Methods:
The electrical skin impedance was measured with the help of an electro-sympathicograph (ESG). In 47 patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery, anaesthesia was induced with intravenous fentanyl 10 mug/kg and etomidate 0.3mg/kg. During induction, the ESG (Electrosympathicograph), BIS (Bispectral IndeX), BP (arterial blood pressure) and HR (heart rate) values of each patient were recorded every 20 seconds.The observation period from administration of fentanyl to intubation for surgery lasted 4 min. -
Results:
The ESG recorded significant changes in the electrical skin impedance after administration of fentanyl and etomidate(p <0.05). During induction of anaesthesia, significant changes of BIS, HR and blood pressure were observed as well (p <0.05).
Conclusions:
The electrical skin impedance measurement may be used to monitor the effects of anesthetics during general anaesthesia.
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