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Anesthetic effects on electrophysiologic recordings
1Department of Anesthesia, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 78284-7838, USA.
Summary
Anesthetic agents significantly impact intraoperative monitoring of the central nervous system (CNS). Understanding how different anesthetics affect electroencephalography (EEG) and evoked potentials (EP) is crucial for accurate interpretation during surgery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Anesthesiology
- Surgical Monitoring
Background:
- Intraoperative monitoring of the central nervous system (CNS) is increasingly utilized.
- A comprehensive understanding of anesthetic agents' effects on CNS monitoring is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of commonly used anesthetic agents on intraoperative electroencephalography (EEG) and evoked potentials (EP).
- To discuss the relevance of these effects for selecting appropriate monitoring techniques.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on anesthetic agents and their impact on EEG and EP.
- Analysis of dose-dependent effects of various anesthetic classes on neurophysiological recordings.
Main Results:
- Inhalational anesthetics decrease EEG amplitude/frequency and sensory evoked potential (SEP) amplitude/latency, primarily affecting cortical components.
- Intravenous agents (opioids, ketamine, sedative-hypnotics) cause less pronounced changes, with some agents like ketamine and etomidate potentially enhancing certain responses.
- Muscle relaxants minimally affect EEG/SEP but can alter motor pathway recordings.
Conclusions:
- Anesthetic choice significantly influences the quality and interpretation of intraoperative CNS monitoring.
- Knowledge of specific agent effects aids in optimizing anesthetic selection for different neurophysiological monitoring modalities.