The influence of the concentration of volatile anesthetics on the stapedius reflex determined intraoperatively during cochlear implantation in children.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was, first, to determine the effect of the concentrations of volatile anesthetics (halothane and isoflurane) on the intraoperative elicited electrical stapedius reflex threshold (ESRT) and, second, to evaluate the relation between the ESRTs and postoperative C-levels.


METHODS
This was a prospective clinical study in a single subject design.


METHODS
The study was conducted at University Hospital Nijmegen, which is a tertiary care and cochlear implant center in The Netherlands.


METHODS
The study population comprised 13 deaf children (6 males and 7 females) undergoing cochlear implantation.


RESULTS
In most of the children, increasing the concentration of volatile anesthetic agent resulted in higher stapedius reflex threshold. After correction for this effect, a good relation was found between ESRT and C-level in all children, except for one.


CONCLUSIONS
The outcome of this study supports the determination of intraoperative ESRTs for programming of the speech processor postsurgery.
Makhdoum
M J
MJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Snik
A F
AF
Stollman
M H
MH
de Grood
P M
PM
van den Broek
P
P
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003638:Deafness / Q000628:therapy*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013198:Stapedius / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D007530:Isoflurane; D006221:Halothane