Preventing intraoperative complications: a new monitoring device for intraoperative EEG recordings

Alterations of the cerebral function caused by anesthetics or due to potentially harmful situations are reflected in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Nevertheless, the EEG has not become a routine monitoring device so far because of the complicated and time-consuming recording procedure. Furthermore, interpretation of the EEG requires special knowledge. In order to facilitate the use of the EEG in the theatre and the intensive care unit a new monitoring device the Narkograph, was developed. To our knowledge, the Narkograph is the first monitor for day-to-day use which performs an automatic classification of drug-induced changes of the EEG in real-time. Staging into different levels of anesthesia is performed according to proposals made by Kugler (1981). By means of several case reports the use of the Narkograph and the benefits of routinely conducted EEG monitoring are presented. As, due to the on-line interpretation of EEG data, information on the current functional status of the brain can easily be obtained, the Narkograph is considered an essential contribution to the patients' security.