Brain State Monitoring: Current Research and Future Possibilities

Processed electroencephalography (pEEG) devices have been used as depth of anesthesia monitors for over two decades to monitor anesthetic depth and reduce the incidence of awareness with recall (AWR). Each device has unique strengths and weaknesses. A growing body of evidence questions the ability of a pEEG-derived numerical indices to consistently, rapidly, and reliably quantify consciousness and prevent AWR in patients under general anesthesia. In light of this evidence, there are new developments in the arena of anesthetic depth monitors that may enable anesthesia providers to quickly and easily interpret real-time electroencephalography (EEG) changes using the EEG spectrogram anesthetic signature analysis method. The ease of use and speed of interpretation of the spectrogram anesthetic signature is much improved over raw EEG waveform analysis. Anesthesia providers skilled in EEG spectrogram anesthetic signature analysis may one day be able to more consistently, rapidly, and reliably quantify consciousness and prevent AWR in patients under general anesthesia.