title: Dexmedetomidine infusion and somatosensory evoked potentials.
abstract: Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring requires information on the effects of anesthetic drugs because these drugs can directly alter evoked potentials, thus interfering with monitoring. We report on our evaluation of the effect of the recently introduced alpha2-adrenergic agonist, dexmedetomidine, on the somatosensory evoked potentials in two patients undergoing cervico-occipital fusion. Our results suggest that, although dexmedetomidine can affect the later cortical peaks of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), consistent and reproducible potentials can be recorded.
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology, New York, New York 10016, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bloom
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beric
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bekker
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000368:Aged; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D015742:Propofol
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D015742:Propofol