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Effect of halothane anesthesia on the human cortical visual evoked response
Anesthesiology
|October 1, 1980
Summary
Monitoring anesthetic depth with visual evoked responses (VERs) showed latency increases with halothane. However, VER latency changes were insufficient to reliably monitor anesthetic depth during surgery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Anesthesiology
Background:
- The visual evoked response (VER) is a measure of the brain's electrical activity in response to visual stimuli.
- Monitoring central nervous system function during surgery is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of visual evoked response (VER) latency as a monitor of anesthetic depth during halothane anesthesia.
Main Methods:
- Intraoperative monitoring of VERs in eight women undergoing anesthesia with halothane.
- Measurements were taken prior to anesthetic induction and at varying end-tidal halothane concentrations.
- Latency of the P1 positive peak was analyzed.
Main Results:
- A progressive increase in P1 latency was observed with increasing end-tidal halothane concentrations.
- Mean P1 latency increased from 113 msec (awake) to 134 msec at 1.13% halothane.
- Differences in latency at tested concentrations were insufficient to conclude VER latency is a reliable monitor of anesthetic depth.
Conclusions:
- While significant effects on VER latency were observed at clinical halothane levels, it may not be a sufficiently sensitive or specific monitor for anesthetic depth.
- Anesthesia-induced prolongation of VER latency must be considered when using VERs for monitoring central nervous system function during neurosurgery.
