title: Intraoperative EEG changes in relation to the surgical procedure during isoflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia: hysterectomy versus mastectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate topographical changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) frequencies and spectral power density in relation to different surgical procedures (abdominal hysterectomy versus mastectomy) during steady-state isoflurane-nitrous oxide (N2O) anesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, nonrandomized, open study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  34 ASA status I and II patients scheduled for elective abdominal hysterectomy or mastectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  12 patients were studied without surgery (Group I, control). 22 patients were studied for the first 14 minutes following skin incision during hysterectomy (Group 2, n = 11) or mastectomy (Group 3, n = 11).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anesthesia was maintained with 0.6% isoflurane in 66% N2O in oxygen (O2). EEG was recorded via 17 channels followed by calculation of spectral power densities in selected frequency bands for each recording site. In addition, heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), end-tidal carbon dioxide tensions, and isoflurane concentration were recorded. Total observation time was 20 minutes in all groups. At baseline, EEG variables were comparable in all groups. The EEG demonstrated slow wave activity superimposed with alpha waves. Start of surgery resulted in increases of slower waves and decreases in alpha activity. In both surgical groups, these EEG changes were most pronounced at frontal recording sites (p < 0.05) with differences in the frequency content. In Group 2 (hysterectomy), delta-activity became dominant, whereas in Group 3 (mastectomy), a shift to theta waves was observed. During surgery MAP was increased by 40% (Group 2; p < 0.05) and 21% (Group 3; p < 0.05), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that specific surgical procedures may induce EEG slow wave activity to a different degree. The EEG response varied in relation to the surgical procedure and/or the intensity of noxious stimulation. Mastectomy resulted in the appearance of theta activity whereas, during laparotomy, the EEG frequency content was shifted to delta waves. The topographical analysis indicates spatial inhomogeneities in the EEG responses with a dominance at frontal areas. From this findings, it may be concluded that the electrode montage used for intraoperative EEG recordings has to be carefully selected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kochs
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haferkorn
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulte am Esch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007530:Isoflurane; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D007530:Isoflurane; D009609:Nitrous Oxide