[Electroencephalographic effects of sevoflurane in pediatric anesthesia: a prospective study of 20 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To study electroencephalographic (EEG) changes in children during induction of anaesthesia with 8% sevoflurane.


METHODS
Twenty patients were consecutively included (ASA I-II; aged: 13-101 months).


METHODS
Prospective study; approved by the Ethics Committee; written informed consent obtained from parents; anaesthesia induced with 8% sevoflurane in oxygen; no premedication was given; to collect the EEG data, non-invasive electodes were installed before induction; EEG was recorded continuously and stored on a computer for later analyses (descriptive analysis).


RESULTS
Myoclonics movements were observed during induction of anaesthesia in two boys. Myoclonics movements stopped spontaneously without therapy. Epileptiform EEG activity (spikes and poly-spikes, burst suppression) was observed. In the 18 others cases, during sevoflurane induction, EEG changed rapidly with an increase in the range of beta activity (> 13 Hz) (n = 15) and in slow (< 8 Hz) and delta activity (< 4 Hz). In 14 patients, at time of laryngoscopy, the EEGs showed monophasic slow data activity (sharp high-voltage slow waves). Periods of EEG isoelectrical (burst suppression) were seen without spikes in four cases.


CONCLUSIONS
At 2 MAC, epileptiform EEG activity has been observed during sevoflurane anaesthesia. In a short group of patients, this raises the question of avoiding sevoflurane in patients who have a history of epilepsy.
Conreux
F
F
Département d'anesthésie-réanimation, CHU Angers, 49033 Angers, France.
Best
O
O
Preckel
M P
MP
Lhopitault
C
C
Beydon
L
L
Pouplard
F
F
Granry
J C
JC
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D009207:Myoclonus / Q000139:chemically induced; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077149:Sevoflurane
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane