Biomedical subjects

D Schwender

Publications and source records attributed to D Schwender.

60 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed1991

[Conscious and unconscious acoustic perception during general anesthesia].

The possibility of processing sensory information during general anesthesia and the ability to recall it postoperatively is of major ethical, medical and even theoretical importance. Auditory stimuli especially are perceived intraoperatively and remembered postoperatively. Neuropsychological experiments indicate that sensory information can be processed and recalled both at a conscious and at an unconscious level. Therefore, we have to distinguish between explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory is characterized by an active and conscious recall of space- and time-related events, i.e., episodes in a person's life. In contrast, implicit memory recalls passively and unconsciously without being related to space and time, i.e., language and general knowledge. Experimental results from amnesic patients indicate that these two memory systems work independently from each other. Even when explicit memory is grossly impaired the function of the implicit memory may still be completely preserved. Various studies on intraoperative awareness show that explicit memory is widely eliminated during general anesthesia. The incidence of conscious awareness that can be actively recalled postoperatively is reported to be 1-3%. In contrast, the implicit memory function can be partially preserved. When implicit memory tasks or hypnosis are employed, traces of unconscious memory of intraoperative auditory information can be shown in 20-30% of the patients. These observations are of important clinical relevance, because the unconsciously recalled information about the intraoperative procedure may have a negative influence on the patient's postoperative recovery and well-being. So far it is still not known which anesthetics most reliably suppress auditory perception and conscious and unconscious memory during the intraoperative period. Therefore, future studies should focus on several different points. The anesthetic state should be defined exactly and the functional state of the auditory modality should be monitored when auditory information is presented to the patients. The recollection of intraoperative events should be investigated using implicit memory tests, because these are regarded as more sensitive than explicit memory tests.

Anesthesia, General↗

PubMed1991

[Acoustic evoked potentials of medium latency and intraoperative wakefulness during anesthesia maintenance using propofol, isoflurane and flunitrazepam/fentanyl].

Auditory evoked potentials have been used as an indicator of awareness. During combined local and general anesthesia clinical signs of adequate anesthesia are difficult to evaluate. In the present study we combined peridural analgesia with three techniques of general anesthesia. Intraoperative wakefulness was documented and correlated with cardiocirculatory parameters as well as with mid-latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEP). METHODS. After institutional approval and informed consent 30 patients undergoing elective laparotomy were studied as follows: first, continuous peridural analgesia was instituted in all patients to block painful sensation of surgical stimuli and the anesthetic level was maintained at T5. Then general anesthesia was induced with propofol 2.5 mg/kg i.v. (group I, n = 10), thiopental 5 mg/kg i.v. (group II, n = 10), or etomidate 0.2 mg/kg i.v. (group III, n = 10) and maintained with propofol 3-5 mg/kg per hour i.v. (group I), isoflurane 0.4-0.8 vol.-% (group II), or flunitrazepam 0.005-0.01 mg/kg i.v. and fentanyl 0.0025-0.005 mg/kg i.v. bolus injections every 20-30 min (group III). Heart rate and arterial pressure were registered continuously. Purposeful movements of the limbs, eye-opening, or other movements as well as coughing were documented as signs of intraoperative wakefulness. AEP were recorded in the awake state, after induction, and during maintenance of general anesthesia. Latencies of the peaks V, Na, and Pa were measured. By fast-Fourier transformation corresponding power-spectra were calculated to analyze the energy content of the AEP frequency components. RESULTS. Intraoperative wakefulness occurred statistically significantly more often in the patients of group III than in those of groups I and II. There was no correlation between wakefulness and cardiocirculatory parameters. Latencies of peaks V, Na, and Pa in the awake patients were in the normal range; the corresponding power-spectra had their major energy content in the 30-40-Hz range. After induction of general anesthesia with propofol, thiopentone, and etomidate as well as during maintenance of general anesthesia with propofol and isoflurane peak latencies of Na and Pa increased, frequencies in the 30-40 Hz range became suppressed, and MLAEP energy maxima shifted to the low-frequency range. In contrast, during maintenance of general anesthesia with flunitrazepam/fentanyl peak latencies of Na and Pa returned to awake values and frequencies in the range of 30 Hz regained energy dominance in the corresponding power-spectra. CONCLUSIONS. The maintenance of MLAEP and the primary cortical complex Na/Pa correlates with the incidence of motor signs of wakefulness. During the combination of regional and general anesthesia, isoflurane and propofol seem to provide better suppression of intraoperative wakefulness than bolus injections of flunitrazepam/fentanyl.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Analysis of oscillatory components in perioperative AEP-recordings: a nonparametric procedure for frequency measurement.

Auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) were recorded in 15 patients scheduled for minor gynecological procedures. The suppression of a middle latency oscillation about 40 Hz was observed during 2 minutes after injection of the anesthetic agent propofol. The decrease in oscillation frequency during anesthetic induction was evaluated with a fast Fourier transformation (FFT) and a rank-correlation procedure (RCP). With AEPs having a short epoch of 100 ms the frequency resolution of the RCP was better than the frequency resolution of the FFT. The rank-correlation function of the RCP indicates an initial drop of oscillation frequency from 44 Hz to 37 Hz during 1 minute after anesthetic induction. During the second minute after the infusion of propofol, the oscillation frequency decreases from 37 Hz to 19 Hz. It is suggested that the suppression of neuronal oscillations in the AEP represents a loss of sensory information processing. The measurement of middle latency oscillations in the AEP is proposed to be a promising indicator for the intraoperative stage of anesthesia.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

[Middle-latency auditory evoked potentials during high-dose opioid analgesia].

Neuropsychological and neurophysiological investigations indicate that a 30-40 Hz oscillatory brain mechanism is necessary for the adequate uptake and processing of elementary successive sensory events. An oscillatory component of that particular frequency range can be observed in the mid-latency auditory evoked potential (MLAEP). It is suppressed under non-specific anesthetic agents (agents not acting on specific structures of the brain or receptors). Opioids produce analgesia, sedation, and are also used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. The effect of opioids on MLAEP has not yet been examined sufficiently. Because intraoperative wakefulness and awareness is not rarely observed under high-dose opioid analgesia, the effect of general anesthesia with fentanyl on MLAEP and auditory evoked neuronal 30-40 Hz oscillation was studied. Following informed consent in 20 patients scheduled for elective surgery, anesthesia was induced with fentanyl 0.01-0.02 mg/kg i.v. Auditory evoked potentials (AEP) were recorded before and 5 min after the start of general anesthesia over the vertex (positive) and mastoids on both sides (negative). Auditory clicks were presented binaurally at 70 dBnHL with a frequency of 9.3 Hz. Using the electrodiagnostic system Pathfinder I (Nicolet Co.), 1000 successive stimuli were averaged over a 100-ms post-stimulus period and analyzed off-line. Latencies of the peaks V, Na, and Pa were measured. By Fast-Fourier Transform-analysis corresponding power spectra were calculated to analyze energy portions of the AEP frequency components. In the awake state AEP showed an oscillatory component between 20- and 100-ms post-stimulus latency. Corresponding power spectra indicated a dominant 30-40 Hz frequency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1990

[Mid-latency auditory evoked potentials during induction of intravenous anesthesia using midazolam, diazepam and flunitrazepam].

Since intraoperative awareness is not infrequently observed under balanced anaesthetic regimens employing benzodiazepines for suppression of consciousness, we studied the effect of intravenous induction of general anaesthesia using the benzodiazepines midazolam, diazepam and flunitrazepam on mid-latency auditory evoked potentials and auditory evoked neuronal 30-40 Hz oscillation. Following informed consent in 30 patients scheduled for minor gynaecological procedures, anaesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.2-0.3 mg/kg b.w. i.v., group I n = 10), diazepam (0.3-0,4 mg/kg b.w., i.v., group II n = 10) or flunitrazepam (0.03-0.04 mg/kg b.w., i.v., group III n = 10). Auditory evoked potentials were recorded before, during and after induction of general anaesthesia on vertex (positive) and mastoides on both sides (negative). Auditory clicks were presented binaurally at 70 dBnHL with a frequency of 9.3 Hz. Using the electrodiagnostic system Pathfinder I (Nicolet), 1000 successive stimuli were averaged over a 100 ms poststimulus period and analysed off-line. Latencies of the peak V, Na, Pa were measured. By means of Fast-Fourier transformation-analysis corresponding power spectra were calculated to analyse energy portions of the AEP frequency components. In the awake state AEP showed an oscillatory component between 20 and 100 ms poststimulus latency. Corresponding power spectra indicated a predominant 30-40 Hz frequency. After induction of general anaesthesia using midazolam, diazepam and flunitrazepam, there was no increase in latencies of the peaks V, Na, Pa, but only a small decrease in amplitudes Na/Pa without statistical significance. The auditory evoked mid-latency neuronal oscillation persisted under induction of general anaesthesia with midazolam, diazepam, flunitrazepam.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1989

[Sensory information processing during general anesthesia. The effect of propofol and ketamine on mid-latency auditory evoked potentials].

Experimental evidence from various neuropsychological and neurophysiological fields indicates that an oscillatory brain mechanism in a frequency range of 30-40 Hz is necessary for adequate sensory information processing. An oscillatory component of that particular frequency range can also be observed in the mid-latency auditory evoked potentials. Thus general anesthesia can be defined as a suppression of sensory information processing, and the effect of the i.v. anesthetics, Propofol and ketamine, on auditory perception and auditory-evoked potentials was therefore studied. In 22 patients anesthesia was induced with Propofol (2.5 mg/kg body weight, group I: n = 10) or ketamine (2 mg/kg body weight, group II: n = 12). Auditory-evoked potentials were recorded before, during, and after induction of general anesthesia. In the awake state, an oscillatory component with an energetically dominant 30-40 Hz frequency was present between 20 and 100 ms poststimulus latency. Propofol suppressed the mid-latency oscillatory component, whereas the component persisted under ketamine. Under Propofol, the 30-40 Hz leading frequency shifted to the lower frequency range, whereas under ketamine, the AEP were still dominated by a 30-40 Hz oscillation. Propofol suppresses the oscillatory brain mechanism necessary for adequate sensory information processing like various other general anesthetics. In contrast to Propofol, ketamine does not alter auditory perception. Suppression of sensory information processing must take place at a higher cortical level in a dissociative manner. The persistence of a 30-40 Hz oscillation must be seen in connection with dreams and hallucinations as reported for the drug and may be interpreted as insufficient suppression of sensory information processing under ketamine anesthesia.

Adult↗