[Electroencephalographic features during enflurane anaesthesia in older children (author's transl)]

The authors report electroclinical changes observed during Enflurane anaesthesia, at various concentrations, in 25 children aged 4 to 14 years. EEG features are described from induction to surgical anesthesia (concentration 3-3.5%) and during overdoses (4-4.5%) with or without hyperventilation. Groups of spikes, low voltage sequences and electroclinical "seizures" (2 cases) only occur if the concentration of enflurane is not kept below 3.5%. A longitudinal study (24th hour, 3rd and 6th day) shows, by comparison with the pre-anaesthetic EEG, persistence in all cases of EEG slowing 24 hours after the anaesthesia, and in some patients EEG disturbances continue until the 6th day. These results are discussed in relation to data on the biodegradation of enflurane.