[Aperiodic analysis of EEG in children during halothane anesthesia]

The difference according to age of EEG was studied during halothane and nitrous oxide anesthesia in 33 children ranging from neonate to 14 year old, using the Lifescan EEG Monitor (Neurometrics). The EEG of 12 infants younger than 6 months showed dominant slow waves, and did not show any activation with the stimulus induced by peritoneal retraction, while EEG of older children showed the high-voltage slow wave responding to such stimulus. Some of teen-agers showed the fast wave predominant response to such stimulus, which is observed in adults. When the EEG monitor is used to examine the depth of anesthesia, we always have to consider the differences according to age, especially in children.