title: The effect of nitrous oxide on cerebral blood flow velocity in children anaesthetised with desflurane.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nitrous oxide on cerebral blood flow velocity in children anaesthetised with desflurane. Eighteen healthy children scheduled for elective surgery were enrolled into the study. Anaesthesia was induced using sevoflurane, and a caudal block was performed following tracheal intubation. Anaesthesia was maintained with 1 age-adjusted MAC desflurane. A transcranial Doppler probe was used to measure middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity. Each patient was randomised to receive a sequence of either air/nitrous oxide/air or nitrous oxide/air/nitrous oxide in 30% oxygen. Fifteen minutes after each change in the nitrous oxide concentration, three measurements of cerebral blood flow velocity, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. Neither the addition nor removal of nitrous oxide caused any significant changes in middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity, heart rate or blood pressure. This may be due to a more potent cerebral vasodilatory effect of desflurane in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1X8.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karsli
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Luginbuehl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bissonnette
mesh_terms: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000077335:Desflurane; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D000077335:Desflurane; D007530:Isoflurane; D009609:Nitrous Oxide