Effect of desflurane anesthesia on transcortical motor evoked potentials

The effect of the volatile anesthetic desflurane on motor evoked potentials was examined in male rats. Animals underwent cortical stimulation using small platinum ball stimulating electrodes secured on the motor cortex. To record evoked compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs), single-shock electrical stimulation was delivered to the forelimb representation of the motor cortex. Muscle responses were readily obtained in the contralateral extensor muscles. The effect of desflurane was examined at various concentrations ranging from 0.7 to 11.4%. With increasing concentrations of desflurane, there was a progressive decrease in the CMAP amplitude and systemic blood pressure over the baseline values. This decrease became statistically significant (p = 0.0078) at 5.7% [1 maximum alveolar concentration (MAC)] concentration of desflurane. Although there was a decrease in heart rate, the results were not statistically significant (p = 0.03). No significant difference in the onset latency or the duration of the CMAP was noted at different concentrations of the anesthetic. We conclude that desflurane anesthesia significantly alters the amplitude of the muscle response evoked by motor cortex stimulation in experimental animals.