Otoacoustic emission and its application in anesthesia

Area of Science:

• Otoacoustic Emissions (OAEs) in Auditory Neuroscience
• Anesthesiology and Auditory Monitoring

Background:

• Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are low-level sounds from the cochlea, offering objective auditory assessment.
• OAEs provide reliable, non-invasive insights into auditory system function, widely used in audiology and anesthesiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current applications of otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) within the field of anesthesia.
• To explore the potential of OAEs for monitoring anesthetic drug effects and protecting cochlear function during surgical procedures.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar.
• Keywords included anesthesia, cochlea, OAEs, specific OAE types, bispectral index, auditory evoked potentials, and depth of anesthesia.
• Selected documents covering the last 40 years were reviewed.

Main Results:

• Anesthetic drug types and dosages significantly impact OAEs; ketamine-based anesthesia affects sensitivity more than isoflurane.
• Higher doses of ketamine-xylazine reduced OAE amplitude, suggesting OAEs can objectively evaluate anesthetic effects.
• OAEs can detect cochlear function during anesthesia, potentially identifying damage.

Conclusions:

• OAEs are utilized in anesthesia, though research primarily focuses on anesthetic influence.
• OAEs offer convenient, reliable, and rapid measurements, indicating significant potential for anesthesia applications.
• Further research into OAEs can enhance anesthetic drug control and auditory protection.