The effect of sevoflurane on electrocorticographic spike activity in pediatric patients with epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Electrocorticogram (ECoG) spike activity is enhanced under general anesthesia with 1.5 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) sevoflurane compared with lower concentrations in adult patients with epilepsy. However, the effect of concentration of sevoflurane on ECoG in children with epilepsy is less known. AIMS: The primary endpoint was to investigate the effects of sevoflurane on ECoG spike activity in pediatric patients undergoing epilepsy surgery. The secondary endpoint was to examine its effects on baseline ECoG including burst suppression. METHODS: Children of age 3-18 years with medically intractable epilepsy undergoing corpus callosotomy or resection of the epileptic foci (n = 11) were enrolled. Electrodes were placed on the brain surface and ECoG was recorded under anesthesia with endtidal carbon dioxide tension at 30 mmHg and sevoflurane at 2.5%, followed by age-adjusted 1.5 MAC (3.1-3.4%) for 10 min. The number of leads with spikes, the average number of spikes per lead per minute, median frequency of ECoG, and duration of suppression of ECoG ≥ 1 s were compared between 2.5% and 1.5 MAC sevoflurane. RESULTS: The number of leads with spikes increased [11 vs 14, P = 0.003, difference in mean (95% CI) is 3 (2-5)], and the average number of spikes increased [9 vs 14·lead-1 ·min-1 , P = 0.003, difference in mean (95% CI) is 5 (2-8) lead-1 ·min-1 ] under anesthesia with 1.5 MAC compared with 2.5% sevoflurane. Median frequency was decreased [2.8 Hz vs 2.0 Hz, P = 0.003, difference in mean (95% CI) is 0.8 (0.4-1.2) Hz], and the duration of suppression was increased [105 s vs 262 s, P < 0.001, difference in mean (95% CI) is 156 (90-223) s] with 1.5 MAC compared with 2.5% sevoflurane. CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane at 1.5 MAC significantly increased the extent and the number of spikes, prolonged the duration of suppression, and decreased median frequency of ECoG compared with those at 2.5% sevoflurane.

Rapid sequence spinal anesthesia for the most urgent cesarean section: a simulation and clinical application.

Rapid sequence spinal anesthesia is a recently developed technique for the most urgent, category-1 cesarean section. To successfully perform this technique, it is important to multi-disciplinarily discuss with all staffs related to delivery, make a local protocol in each hospital and simulate the procedure with them. Owing to the above preparation, we were able to perform the technique smoothly also in the real patient. Considering possible benefits of rapid sequence spinal anesthesia, we should prepare enough before we use it in the actual clinical situations.