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Vogt KM, Pryor KO. Anesthesia and the neurobiology of fear and posttraumatic stress disorder. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 2022; 35:593-599. [PMID: 35993581 PMCID: PMC9469898 DOI: 10.1097/aco.0000000000001176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Dysfunction of fear memory systems underlie a cluster of clinically important and highly prevalent psychological morbidities seen in perioperative and critical care patients, most archetypally posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Several sedative-hypnotics and analgesics are known to modulate fear systems, and it is theoretically plausible that clinical decisions of the anesthesiologist could impact psychological outcomes. This review aims to provide a focused synthesis of relevant literature from multiple fields of research. RECENT FINDINGS There is evidence in some contexts that unconscious fear memory systems are less sensitive to anesthetics than are conscious memory systems. Opiates may suppress the activation of fear systems and have benefit in the prevention of PTSD following trauma. There is inconsistent evidence that the use of propofol and benzodiazepines for sedation following trauma may potentiate the development of PTSD relative to other drugs. The benefits of ketamine seen in the treatment of major depression are not clearly replicated in PTSD-cluster psychopathologies, and its effects on fear processes are complex. SUMMARY There are multiple theoretical mechanisms by which anesthetic drugs can modulate fear systems and clinically important fear-based psychopathologies. The current state of research provides some evidence to support further hypothesis investigation. However, the absence of effectiveness studies and the inconsistent signals from smaller studies provide insufficient evidence to currently offer firm clinical guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith M. Vogt
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Pittsburgh
| | - Kane O. Pryor
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine
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Linassi F, Obert DP, Maran E, Tellaroli P, Kreuzer M, Sanders RD, Carron M. Implicit Memory and Anesthesia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:850. [PMID: 34440594 PMCID: PMC8400596 DOI: 10.3390/life11080850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
General anesthesia should induce unconsciousness and provide amnesia. Amnesia refers to the absence of explicit and implicit memories. Unlike explicit memory, implicit memory is not consciously recalled, and it can affect behavior/performance at a later time. The impact of general anesthesia in preventing implicit memory formation is not well-established. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis of studies reporting implicit memory occurrence in adult patients after deep sedation (Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation of 0-1 with spontaneous breathing) or general anesthesia. We also evaluated the impact of different anesthetic/analgesic regimens and the time point of auditory task delivery on implicit memory formation. The meta-analysis included the estimation of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We included a total of 61 studies with 3906 patients and 119 different cohorts. For 43 cohorts (36.1%), implicit memory events were reported. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status III-IV was associated with a higher likelihood of implicit memory formation (OR:3.48; 95%CI:1.18-10.25, p < 0.05) than ASA physical status I-II. Further, there was a lower likelihood of implicit memory formation for deep sedation cases, compared to general anesthesia (OR:0.10; 95%CI:0.01-0.76, p < 0.05) and for patients receiving premedication with benzodiazepines compared to not premedicated patients before general anesthesia (OR:0.35; 95%CI:0.13-0.93, p = 0.05).
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Linassi
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Ca’ Foncello Treviso Regional Hospital, Piazzale Ospedale 1, 31100 Treviso, Italy;
| | - David Peter Obert
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Muenchen, Germany; (D.P.O.); (M.K.)
| | - Eleonora Maran
- Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Ca’ Foncello Treviso Regional Hospital, Piazzale Ospedale 1, 31100 Treviso, Italy;
| | - Paola Tellaroli
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialisation, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35121 Padova, Italy;
| | - Matthias Kreuzer
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Muenchen, Germany; (D.P.O.); (M.K.)
| | - Robert David Sanders
- Department of Anaesthetics, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia;
| | - Michele Carron
- Department of Medicine, Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Padova, Via C. Battisti 267, 35121 Padova, Italy;
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Fu VX, Sleurink KJ, Janssen JC, Wijnhoven BPL, Jeekel J, Klimek M. Perception of auditory stimuli during general anesthesia and its effects on patient outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Can J Anaesth 2021; 68:1231-1253. [PMID: 34013463 PMCID: PMC8282577 DOI: 10.1007/s12630-021-02015-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Interest in implicit memory formation and unconscious auditory stimulus perception during general anesthesia has resurfaced as perioperative music has been reported to produce beneficial effects. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating explicit and implicit memory formation during general anesthesia and its effects on postoperative patient outcomes and recovery. SOURCE We performed a systematic literature search of Embase, Ovid Medline, and Cochrane Central from inception date until 15 October 2020. Eligible for inclusion were RCTs investigating intraoperative auditory stimulation in adult surgical patients under general anesthesia in which patients, healthcare staff, and outcome assessors were all blinded. We used random effects models for meta-analyses. This study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020178087). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Fifty-three (4,200 patients) of 5,859 identified articles were included. There was evidence of implicit memory formation in seven out of 17 studies (41%) when assessed using perceptual priming tasks. Mixed results were observed on postoperative behavioural and motor response after intraoperative suggestions. Intraoperative music significantly reduced postoperative pain (standardized mean difference [SMD], -0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.1 to -0.57; P < 0.001; I2 = 0; n = 226) and opioid requirements (SMD, -0.29; 95% CI, -0.57 to -0.015; P = 0.039; I2 = 36; n = 336), while positive therapeutic suggestions did not. CONCLUSION The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis show that intraoperative auditory stimuli can be perceived and processed during clinically adequate, general anesthesia irrespective of surgical procedure severity, leading to implicit memory formation without explicit awareness. Intraoperative music can exert significant beneficial effects on postoperative pain and opioid requirements. Whether the employed intraoperative anesthesia regimen is of influence is not yet clear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor X Fu
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Karel J Sleurink
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joséphine C Janssen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bas P L Wijnhoven
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Jeekel
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Doctor Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Markus Klimek
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Orena EF, Landucci F, Ayadi R, Caldiroli D, Papagno C. Propofol and sevoflurane affect intra-operative memory formation of words differently: A prospective cohort study. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2021; 38:S50-S57. [PMID: 33399379 DOI: 10.1097/eja.0000000000001417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Memory priming seems possible even during apparently adequate anaesthesia. However, the effects of different anaesthetics and type of stimuli, by virtue of their specific neural underpinnings, have not been considered. OBJECTIVE To determine if intra-operative implicit memory is affected by the type of anaesthesia (propofol or sevoflurane) or by the type of stimuli (abstract or concrete words). DESIGN Two consecutive, randomised controlled experiments. SETTING Neurological institute in Milan, Italy. PATIENTS Forty-three patients undergoing anaesthesia with propofol (experiment 1) and 32 patients undergoing anaesthesia with sevoflurane (experiment 2). Patients were ASA I or II, age 18 to 65 years, native Italian speakers, right-handed and without any condition affecting memory or hearing. INTERVENTION During anaesthesia, the patients heard a list of either concrete or abstract words or no words at all (controls). Explicit memory was tested with an explicit recall task and the Brice Interview; implicit memory was assessed through a word stem completion test. OUTCOME MEASURES The number of explicitly recalled words, positivity to the Brice Interview, the proportion of target and nontarget hits, and a derived implicit memory score. RESULTS With propofol, the proportion of target hits was significantly greater than the proportion of nontarget hits for the concrete word experimental group (P = 0.018). The implicit memory score of the concrete word experimental group was significantly higher than the score of both the abstract word experimental group (P = 0.000) and the concrete word control group (P = 0.023). With sevoflurane, the proportion of target hits was significantly higher than the proportion of nontarget hits for the abstract word experimental group only (P = 0.027). No patients had a BIS above 60 and no one could recall intra-operative events or words. CONCLUSION Intra-operative memory for words can form during apparently adequate BIS-guided anaesthesia but is modified by propofol or sevoflurane acting on different brain targets. Further studies on larger samples and using neuroimaging techniques are needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03727464.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora F Orena
- From the Department of Neurosurgery, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta (EFO, RA, DC), Department of Psychology, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milan (EFO, CP), Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Florence (FL) and CeRiN and CIMeC, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy (CP)
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Gao WW, He YH, Liu L, Yuan Q, Wang YF, Zhao B. BIS Monitoring on Intraoperative Awareness: A Meta-analysis. Curr Med Sci 2018; 38:349-353. [PMID: 30074196 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-018-1886-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2017] [Revised: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Intraoperative awareness is a very serious complication of general anesthesia. Several studies have evaluated the potential association between bispectral index (BIS) and intraoperative awareness, however, the results obtained were controversial. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to further assess the association between the BIS monitoring and the incidence of intraoperative awareness. A comprehensive search was conducted to identify all eligible studies from the online literature databases published prior to Feb. 2017. A total of five studies with 17 432 cases and 16 749 controls were included. An odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to examine the strength of the association. The results showed that in the overall analysis, the association between the BIS monitoring and the incidence of intraoperative awareness was not significant (OR=0.58, 95% CI= 0.22-1.58, P=0.29). A stratified analysis by comparing different anesthesia methods revealed that BIS monitoring group showed a lower incidence of intraoperative awareness in patients with intravenous anesthesia when compared with non-BIS monitoring group (OR=0.20, 95% CI=0.08-0.49, P=0.0004), whereas there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of intraoperative awareness between BIS and non-BIS monitoring groups in patients with inhalation anesthesia (OR=1.13, 95% CI=0.56-2.26, P=0.73). In conclusion, our meta-analysis showed that BIS monitoring had no appreciable advantage in the reduction of the intraoperative awareness incidence in inhalation anesthesia, while showed a remarkable superiority in intravenous anesthesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Wei Gao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yu-Hong He
- Office of Infection Control, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Lian Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Quan Yuan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Ya-Feng Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Bo Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
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Lawes EG. Auditory stimulation and levels of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia 2017; 72:1043-1044. [DOI: 10.1111/anae.13945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Messina AG, Wang M, Ward MJ, Wilker CC, Smith BB, Vezina DP, Pace NL. Anaesthetic interventions for prevention of awareness during surgery. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016; 10:CD007272. [PMID: 27755648 PMCID: PMC6461159 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd007272.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND General anaesthesia is usually associated with unconsciousness. 'Awareness' is when patients have postoperative recall of events or experiences during surgery. 'Wakefulness' is when patients become conscious during surgery, but have no postoperative recollection of the period of consciousness. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of two types of anaesthetic interventions in reducing clinically significant awareness:- anaesthetic drug regimens; and- intraoperative anaesthetic depth monitors. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, ISSUE 4 2016); PubMed from 1950 to April 2016; MEDLINE from 1950 to April 2016; and Embase from 1980 to April 2016. We contacted experts to identify additional studies. We performed a handsearch of the citations in the review. We did not search trial registries. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of either anaesthetic regimens or anaesthetic depth monitors. We excluded volunteer studies, studies of patients prior to skin incision, intensive care unit studies, and studies that only randomized different word presentations for memory tests (not anaesthetic interventions).Anaesthetic drug regimens included studies of induction or maintenance, or both. Anaesthetic depth monitors included the Bispectral Index monitor, M-Entropy, Narcotrend monitor, cerebral function monitor, cerebral state monitor, patient state index, and lower oesophageal contractility monitor. The use of anaesthetic depth monitors allows the titration of anaesthetic drugs to maintain unconsciousness. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS At least two authors independently scanned abstracts, extracted data from the studies, and evaluated studies for risk of bias. We made attempts to contact all authors for additional clarification. We performed meta-analysis statistics in packages of the R language. MAIN RESULTS We included 160 studies with 54,109 enrolled participants; 53,713 participants started the studies and 50,034 completed the studies or data analysis (or both). We could not use 115 RCTs in meta-analytic comparisons because they had zero awareness events. We did not merge 27 of the remaining 45 studies because they had excessive clinical and methodological heterogeneity. We pooled the remaining 18 eligible RCTs in meta-analysis. There are 10 studies awaiting classification which we will process when we update the review.The meta-analyses included 18 trials with 36,034 participants. In the analysis of anaesthetic depth monitoring (either Bispectral Index or M-entropy) versus standard clinical and electronic monitoring, there were nine trials with 34,744 participants. The overall event rate was 0.5%. The effect favoured neither anaesthetic depth monitoring nor standard clinical and electronic monitoring, with little precision in the odds ratio (OR) estimate (OR 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59 to 1.62).In a five-study subset of Bispectral Index monitoring versus standard clinical and electronic monitoring, with 34,181 participants, 503 participants gave awareness reports to a blinded, expert panel who adjudicated or judged the outcome for each patient after reviewing the questionnaires: no awareness, possible awareness, or definite awareness. Experts judged 351 patient awareness reports to have no awareness, 87 to have possible awareness, and 65 to have definite awareness. The effect size favoured neither Bispectral Index monitoring nor standard clinical and electronic monitoring, with little precision in the OR estimate for the combination of definite and possible awareness (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.35 to 2.65). The effect size favoured Bispectral Index monitoring for definite awareness, but with little precision in the OR estimate (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.13 to 2.75).We performed three smaller meta-analyses of anaesthetic drugs. There were nine studies with 1290 participants. Wakefulness was reduced by ketamine and etomidate compared to thiopental. Wakefulness was more frequent than awareness. Benzodiazepines reduces awareness compared to thiopental, ketamine, and placebo., Also, higher doses of inhaled anaesthetics versus lower doses reduced the risk of awareness.We graded the quality of the evidence as low or very low in the 'Summary of findings' tables for the five comparisons.Most of the secondary outcomes in this review were not reported in the included RCTs. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Anaesthetic depth monitors may have similar effects to standard clinical and electrical monitoring on the risk of awareness during surgery. In older studies comparing anaesthetics in a smaller portion of the patient sample, wakefulness occurred more frequently than awareness. Use of etomidate and ketamine lowered the risk of wakefulness compared to thiopental. Benzodiazepines compared to thiopental and ketamine, or higher doses of inhaled anaesthetics versus lower doses, reduced the risk of awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony G Messina
- School of Management, University of Texas at DallasThe Alliance for Medical Management EducationBox 2331920 N. Coit RoadRichardsonTXUSA75080
| | - Michael Wang
- University of LeicesterClinical Psychology UnitLancaster RoadLeicesterUKLE1 7HA
| | - Marshall J Ward
- Dartmouth‐Hitchcock Medical Center1 Medical Center DrLebanonNHUSA03766
| | - Chase C Wilker
- ARUP LaboratoriesClinical Toxicology IIISalt Lake CityUTUSA
| | - Brett B Smith
- University of UtahUniversity of Utah School of MedicineSalt Lake CityUTUSA84112
| | - Daniel P Vezina
- University of UtahDepartment of Anesthesiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of CardiologySalt Lake CityUTUSA
- Veteran's AdministrationEchocardiography LaboratorySalt Lake CityUTUSA
| | - Nathan Leon Pace
- University of UtahDepartment of Anesthesiology3C444 SOM30 North 1900 EastSalt Lake CityUTUSA84132‐2304
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Lequeux PY, Hecquet F, Bredas P. Does anesthetic regimen influence implicit memory during general anesthesia? Anesth Analg 2015; 119:1174-9. [PMID: 24797121 DOI: 10.1213/ane.0000000000000162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Implicit learning of intraoperative auditory stimuli during general anesthesia is very difficult to quantify but may require the presence of noxious stimulation. We hypothesized that an anesthetic regimen with a low dose of opioid would enhance implicit memory, while a regimen with a high dose of opioid would not. METHODS One hundred-twenty patients were randomized into 3 groups. All patients were anesthetized with a target-controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil, targeting a Bispectral Index (BIS) value of 50. The remifentanil effect-site concentration (in ng/mL) was always double that of propofol (in μg/mL) in the first group and half of that in the second group. Patients in these 2 groups were played a list of 20 words via headphones during surgery. The third group served as control for memory tests and was not played any word during anesthesia. BIS was recorded during word presentation. RESULTS No statistical difference was found among the 3 groups regarding 3 different memory tests although 67.5% [50.7%; 80.9%] of the patients of the high-opioid group and 72.5% [55.9%; 84.9%] of the low-opioid group had at least 1 episode of BIS >60. CONCLUSIONS We could not demonstrate the presence of implicit or explicit memorization under propofol-remifentanil anesthesia either with a low- or a high-dose opioid anesthetic regimen.
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Martin S, Smith AB, Newcomb P, Miller J. Effects of therapeutic suggestion under anesthesia on outcomes in children post tonsillectomy. J Perianesth Nurs 2015; 29:94-106. [PMID: 24661479 DOI: 10.1016/j.jopan.2013.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Revised: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tonsillectomy causes discomfort in children. Positive therapeutic suggestions (TS) may be given to patients while they are emerging from general anesthesia as a potential tool to decrease distress. PURPOSE This study examined impact of TS on outcomes, when delivered to children emerging from general anesthesia post tonsillectomy. DESIGN A double blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted with 94 patient/parent pairs. METHODS TS and noise recordings were played via headphones post tonsillectomy upon arrival to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit until the child showed signs of waking. FINDINGS Pain scores at 30 minutes post extubation show significantly lower pain in the TS group, P = .04 (Mann Whitney U for independent samples). The TS group had 70% increased likelihood of receiving less intravenous (IV) opioid. CONCLUSION TS may help lower pain in children post tonsillectomy and decrease demand for IV opioid pain management in the 4- to 8-year-old tonsillectomy population.
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Veselis RA. Memory formation during anaesthesia: plausibility of a neurophysiological basis. Br J Anaesth 2015; 115 Suppl 1:i13-i19. [PMID: 25735711 DOI: 10.1093/bja/aev035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
As opposed to conscious, personally relevant (explicit) memories that we can recall at will, implicit (unconscious) memories are prototypical of 'hidden' memory; memories that exist, but that we do not know we possess. Nevertheless, our behaviour can be affected by these memories; in fact, these memories allow us to function in an ever-changing world. It is still unclear from behavioural studies whether similar memories can be formed during anaesthesia. Thus, a relevant question is whether implicit memory formation is a realistic possibility during anaesthesia, considering the underlying neurophysiology. A different conceptualization of memory taxonomy is presented, the serial parallel independent model of Tulving, which focuses on dynamic information processing with interactions among different memory systems rather than static classification of different types of memories. The neurophysiological basis for subliminal information processing is considered in the context of brain function as embodied in network interactions. Function of sensory cortices and thalamic activity during anaesthesia are reviewed. The role of sensory and perisensory cortices, in particular the auditory cortex, in support of memory function is discussed. Although improbable, with the current knowledge of neurophysiology one cannot rule out the possibility of memory formation during anaesthesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Veselis
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, USA Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, USA
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12
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Anesthesia and neuroimaging: investigating the neural correlates of unconsciousness. Trends Cogn Sci 2015; 19:100-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2014.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Luce JM. Chronic disorders of consciousness following coma: Part one: medical issues. Chest 2014; 144:1381-1387. [PMID: 24081351 DOI: 10.1378/chest.13-0395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing numbers of patients survive traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cardiopulmonary arrest and resuscitation and are admitted to the ICU in coma. Some of these patients become brain dead; others regain consciousness. Still others become vegetative or minimally conscious, conditions called chronic disorders of consciousness and ultimately are cared for outside the ICU. Comatose patients lack the wakefulness and awareness that distinguish consciousness from unconsciousness. Vegetative patients are awake in that they manifest sleep-wake cycles, but they are unaware of their environment and cannot respond to stimuli. Minimally conscious patients are awake, aware to a limited extent, and somewhat responsive. The diagnosis of the vegetative and minimally conscious states has been based largely on their behavioral and pathologic features, and it has been believed that vegetative patients remain in that condition permanently. Nevertheless, EEG and neuroimaging studies suggest that the traditional diagnostic approach is imprecise. Moreover, clinical investigations have revealed that some vegetative patients can become minimally conscious and that some minimally conscious patients can gain increased awareness. Few therapies for patients with chronic disorders of consciousness have been subjected to randomized trials. Furthermore, although a small number of patients have improved neurologically with or without treatment, their overall prognosis for neurologic recovery remains poor.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Luce
- Department of Medicine and the Department of Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco, Divsion of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA.
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Kuldas S, Ismail HN, Hashim S, Bakar ZA. Unconscious learning processes: mental integration of verbal and pictorial instructional materials. SPRINGERPLUS 2013. [PMID: 23556145 DOI: 10.1186/2193-1801-2-105.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
This review aims to provide an insight into human learning processes by examining the role of cognitive and emotional unconscious processing in mentally integrating visual and verbal instructional materials. Reviewed literature shows that conscious mental integration does not happen all the time, nor does it necessarily result in optimal learning. Students of all ages and levels of experience cannot always have conscious awareness, control, and the intention to learn or promptly and continually organize perceptual, cognitive, and emotional processes of learning. This review suggests considering the role of unconscious learning processes to enhance the understanding of how students form or activate mental associations between verbal and pictorial information. The understanding would assist in presenting students with spatially-integrated verbal and pictorial instructional materials as a way of facilitating mental integration and improving teaching and learning performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seffetullah Kuldas
- School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, 11800 USM Malaysia
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Kuldas S, Ismail HN, Hashim S, Bakar ZA. Unconscious learning processes: mental integration of verbal and pictorial instructional materials. SPRINGERPLUS 2013; 2:105. [PMID: 23556145 PMCID: PMC3612179 DOI: 10.1186/2193-1801-2-105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This review aims to provide an insight into human learning processes by examining the role of cognitive and emotional unconscious processing in mentally integrating visual and verbal instructional materials. Reviewed literature shows that conscious mental integration does not happen all the time, nor does it necessarily result in optimal learning. Students of all ages and levels of experience cannot always have conscious awareness, control, and the intention to learn or promptly and continually organize perceptual, cognitive, and emotional processes of learning. This review suggests considering the role of unconscious learning processes to enhance the understanding of how students form or activate mental associations between verbal and pictorial information. The understanding would assist in presenting students with spatially-integrated verbal and pictorial instructional materials as a way of facilitating mental integration and improving teaching and learning performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seffetullah Kuldas
- School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, 11800 USM Malaysia
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Flouda L, Pandazi A, Papageorgiou C, Perrea D, Krepi E, Kostopanagiotou G. Comparative effects of sevoflurane and propofol based general anaesthesia for elective surgery on memory. Arch Med Sci 2013; 9:105-11. [PMID: 23515343 PMCID: PMC3598141 DOI: 10.5114/aoms.2013.33351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2011] [Revised: 02/21/2012] [Accepted: 03/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Unconscious processing of words during general anaesthesia has been suggested. We used the process dissociation procedure (PDP) to test memory performance during sevoflurane and propofol anaesthesia in relation to hypnotic depth. MATERIAL AND METHODS One hundred participants anaesthetised for elective surgery (50 with propofol and 50 with sevoflurane) and 50 non-anaesthetized listened to a list of words. The bispectral index (BIS) of the anaesthetised patients was recorded. Within 36 h after word presentation, memory was assessed using a word stem completion task, based on Buchner's model applied on the PDP. RESULTS There was evidence of memory for words presented during light (BIS 61-80) (p = 0.001) and adequate (BIS 41-60) (p = 0.008) but not deep anaesthesia (BIS 21-40) (p = 0.09). The PDP showed a significant implicit but not explicit memory contribution (mean total explicit memory scores: 0.04 ±0.07 in all BIS categories; mean implicit memory scores: 0.01 ±0.04, 0.1 ±0.08, and 0.05 ±0.09 at BIS = 21-40, 41-60, and 61-80, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference between the mean implicit memory score (I) of the propofol and sevoflurane group in the BIS category 41-60 in general (p = 0.016), and after incision (IA.I.) (p = 0.005) in particular, with propofol depressing I more than sevoflurane in both cases. Memory performance of nonanaesthetized participants was better, with a higher contribution of explicit and a comparable contribution of implicit memory. CONCLUSIONS During general anaesthesia, implicit memory persists even in adequate hypnotic states. Sevoflurane affects the implicit memory of adequately anaesthetised subjects less than propofol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lito Flouda
- 2 Department of Anaesthesiology, Attikon University Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ageliki Pandazi
- 2 Department of Anaesthesiology, Attikon University Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Despoina Perrea
- Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Krepi
- 2 Department of Anaesthesiology, Attikon University Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Kaposy C, Baylis F. The common rule, pregnant women, and research: no need to "rescue" that which should be revised. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOETHICS : AJOB 2011; 11:60-62. [PMID: 21534157 DOI: 10.1080/15265161.2011.578704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
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Bejjani G, Lequeux PY, Schmartz D, Engelman E, Barvais L. No Evidence of Memory Processing During Propofol-Remifentanil Target-Controlled Infusion Anesthesia With Bispectral Index Monitoring in Cardiac Surgery. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2009; 23:175-81. [DOI: 10.1053/j.jvca.2008.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2008] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Lopez U, Habre W, Laurençon M, Willems S, Schmidt C, Van der Linden M, Iselin-Chaves I. Does implicit memory during anaesthesia persist in children? Br J Anaesth 2009; 102:379-84. [DOI: 10.1093/bja/aen404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Kahane G, Savulescu J. Brain damage and the moral significance of consciousness. THE JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND PHILOSOPHY 2009; 34:6-26. [PMID: 19193694 DOI: 10.1093/jmp/jhn038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroimaging studies of brain-damaged patients diagnosed as in the vegetative state suggest that the patients might be conscious. This might seem to raise no new ethical questions given that in related disputes both sides agree that evidence for consciousness gives strong reason to preserve life. We question this assumption. We clarify the widely held but obscure principle that consciousness is morally significant. It is hard to apply this principle to difficult cases given that philosophers of mind distinguish between a range of notions of consciousness and that is unclear which of these is assumed by the principle. We suggest that the morally relevant notion is that of phenomenal consciousness and then use our analysis to interpret cases of brain damage. We argue that enjoyment of consciousness might actually give stronger moral reasons not to preserve a patient's life and, indeed, that these might be stronger when patients retain significant cognitive function.
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Andrade J, Deeprose C, Barker I. Awareness and memory function during paediatric anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth 2008; 100:389-96. [DOI: 10.1093/bja/aem378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Andrade J, Deeprose C. Unconscious memory formation during anaesthesia. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2007; 21:385-401. [PMID: 17900016 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpa.2007.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Do patients form memories of intra-operative events when they are adequately anaesthetized? Studies of memory priming during anaesthesia with depth or awareness monitoring provide some evidence that they do, although only the most basic form of memory function, perceptual priming, persists when patients are unconscious. The probability of memory encoding increases as depth of anaesthesia decreases. There is a theoretical possibility that patients can be adversely affected, through memory priming, by comments made in the operating theatre, and some evidence that positive intra-operative suggestions can benefit patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackie Andrade
- Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Abstract
Episodic memory is the most 'human' of all memory systems, is integrally related to the hippocampus, and not only permits memories of the past in rich detail, but also allows projection of thoughts into the future. However, episodic memory is very sensitive to anaesthetic drugs and cannot be formed during adequate general anaesthesia. Ablation of episodic memory during consciousness is due to forgetting of memories, rather than inhibition of memory formation. There is a fine balance between being conscious with recollection and conscious with no recollection. A more detailed understanding of episodic memory in relation to other memory systems, as well as the relationship of the hippocampus to episodic memory function is provided. A synthesis of diverse knowledge is undertaken to identify potential mechanisms of amnesic drug effect, which will, of course, require further research to delineate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Veselis
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Core Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York 10021, USA.
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Voss L, Sleigh J. Monitoring consciousness: the current status of EEG-based depth of anaesthesia monitors. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2007; 21:313-25. [PMID: 17900011 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpa.2007.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Direct and indirect inhibitory effects of anaesthetic agents on cortical activity are reflected in the electroencephalogram (EEG) as: (i) a shift from low-amplitude, high-frequency EEG, to high-amplitude, low-frequency activity (indicative of cortical depowering) and; (ii) the appearance of spindles and K-complexes (indicative of thalamocortical hyperpolarisation and sensory blockade). Existing EEG monitors use cortical activity as a proxy measure for consciousness. However the state of the cortex at any given moment does not accurately predict the state that it will enter in response to a noxious stimulus, and EEG monitors do not differentiate well between different levels of rousability. Also the literature reveals many instances where the EEG pattern is dissociated from conscious state (e.g. an awake-looking EEG, but an unresponsive patient; or a slow-wave EEG in an awake patient). Fortunately, a slow-wave EEG (even in the presence of a responsive patient) usually indicates profound amnesia for explicit memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Voss
- Department of Anaesthesia, Waikato Clinical School, University of Auckland, Hamilton, New Zealand.
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Aceto P, Congedo E, Lai C, Valente A, Gualtieri E, De Cosmo G. Dreams recall and auditory evoked potentials during propofol anaesthesia. Neuroreport 2007; 18:823-6. [PMID: 17471074 DOI: 10.1097/wnr.0b013e3280e129f5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
It is unclear whether shorter wave latencies of middle-latency-auditory-evoked-potentials may be associated to cognitive function other than nondeclarative memory. We investigated the presence of declarative, nondeclarative and dreaming memory in propofol-anaesthetized patients and any relationship to intraoperatively registered middle-latency-auditory-evoked-potentials. An audiotape containing one of two stories was presented to patients during anaesthesia. Patients were interviewed on dream recall immediately upon emergence from anaesthesia. Declarative and nondeclarative memories for intraoperative listening were assessed 24 h after awakening without pointing out positive findings. Six patients who reported dream recall showed an intraoperative Pa latency less than that of patients who were unable to remember any dreams (P<0.001). A high responsiveness degree of primary cortex was associated to dream recall formation during anaesthesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Aceto
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
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Dobrunz UEG, Jaeger K, Vetter G. Memory priming during light anaesthesia with desflurane and remifentanil anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth 2007; 98:491-6. [PMID: 17327251 DOI: 10.1093/bja/aem008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies of memory priming during anaesthesia with EEG monitoring have observed implicit memory effects for words presented during light and deep anaesthesia with and without surgical stimulation. We hypothesized that memory priming occurs under each of five different combinations of anaesthesia and surgery, and no significant differences occur in memory priming among the five conditions or between the two test points such as, 12 vs 24 h after surgery. METHODS Forty gynaecological patients (aged between 28 and 66 yr, median 44.5 yr) were included in the study. They received propofol and remifentanil induction followed by desflurane and remifentanil anaesthesia in conjunction with neuromuscular blocking agents. Each patient was exposed to 60 of 120 nouns in a double-blind randomized design. These 60 nouns were divided into 5 groups of 12 words, presented under one of the five different conditions, namely, intubation, skin incision, deep anaesthesia and moderate anaesthesia (both during surgery), and light anaesthesia during the emergence phase. The depth of anaesthesia was measured using the EEG monitor, Narcotrend. RESULTS No explicit memories were observed in a free recall or in a yes-no recognition test. A word-stem completion test revealed a significant implicit priming only for light anaesthesia (P < 0.01). No significant differences were detected among the five conditions. An overall implicit memory effect occurred for the second test point (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our hypotheses could not be verified. Implicit memory priming occurred only under light anaesthesia, when the patients were most probably conscious. Priming effects may be enhanced after night's sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- U E G Dobrunz
- Institut für Psychologie und Kognitionsforschung, Universität Bremen, Grazer Strasse 4, Postfach 33 04 40, 28359 Bremen, Germany.
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Abstract
Depth-of-anesthesia monitoring with EEG or EEG combined with mLAER is becoming widely used in anesthesia practice. Evidence shows that this monitoring improves outcome by reducing the incidence of intra-operative awareness while reducing the average amount of anesthesia that is administered, resulting in faster wake-up and recovery, and perhaps reduced nausea and vomiting. As with any monitoring device, there are limitations in the use of the monitors and the anesthesiologist must be able to interpret the data accordingly. The limitations include the following. The currently available monitoring algorithms do not account for all anesthetic drugs, including ketamine, nitrous oxide and halothane. EMG and other high-frequency electrical artifacts are common and interfere with EEG interpretation. Data processing time produces a lag in the computation of the depth-of-anesthesia monitoring index. Frequently the EEG effects of anesthetic drugs are not good predictors of movement in response to a surgical stimulus because the main site of action for anesthetic drugs to prevent movement is the spinal cord. The use of depth-of-anesthesia monitoring in children is not as well understood as in adults. Several monitoring devices are commercially available. The BIS monitor is the most thoroughly studied and most widely used, but the amount of information about other monitors is growing. In the future, depth-of-anesthesia monitoring will probably help in further refining and better understanding the process of administering anesthesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Andrew Bowdle
- Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Mail Stop 356540, Room AA-117C, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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Abstract
The use of processed electroencephalography (EEG) using a simple frontal lead system has been made available for assessing the impact of anesthetic medications during surgery. This review discusses the basic principles behind these devices. The foundations of anesthesia monitoring rest on the observations of Guedel with ether that the depth of anesthesia relates to the cortical, brainstem and spinal effects of the anesthetic agents. Anesthesiologists strive to have a patient who is immobile, is unconscious, is hemodynamically stable and who has no intraoperative awareness or recall. These anesthetic management principles apply today, despite the absence of ether from the available anesthetic medications. The use of the EEG as a supplement to the usual monitoring techniques rests on the observation that anesthetic medications all alter the synaptic function which produces the EEG. Frontal EEG can be viewed as a surrogate for the drug effects on the entire central nervous system (CNS). Using mathematical processing techniques, commercial EEG devices create an index usually between 0 and 100 to characterize this drug effect. Critical aspects of memory formation occur in the frontal lobes making EEG monitoring in this area a possible method to assess risk of recall. Integration of processed EEG monitoring into anesthetic management is evolving and its ability to characterize all of the anesthetic effects on the CNS (in particular awareness and recall) and improve decision making is under study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie C Jameson
- Anesthesiology, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, 4200 East 9th Ave, Campus Box B113, Denver, CO 80262, USA.
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Abstract
Advances in electroencephalogram (EEG) processing have produced new interest in measuring anesthesia using the EEG. There are a number of EEG-based anesthesia 'depth' monitors now available and their use in pediatric anesthesia is increasing. Although these monitors have been extensively studied in adults, there are relatively few studies examining their validity or use in children. To some extent we must rely on adult data. However, extrapolation of data from adults to children requires an in depth understanding of the physiology behind the data. The first question is what is being measured. What is anesthesia? A model of anesthesia has several components with arousal as a core component. Arousal can be linked to clinical observations, and correlates with anatomical and physiological studies. The EEG has characteristics that fairly consistently change with arousal during anesthesia, but the relationship between arousal and the EEG is imprecise and drug dependent. This relationship is the basis for using the EEG to measure anesthesia and provides only an indirect measure of consciousness and memory formation. A good understanding of how the EEG is related to anesthesia is essential when interpreting the EEG during anesthesia, and especially when extending the use of the EEG to measure anesthesia in children. Physiological studies in adults and children indicate that EEG-derived anesthesia depth monitors can provide an imprecise and drug-dependent measure of arousal. Although the outputs from these monitors do not closely represent any true physiological entity, they can be used as guides for anesthesia and in so doing have improved outcomes in adults. In older children the physiology, anatomy and clinical observations indicate the performance of the monitors may be similar to that in adults, although the clinical relevance of outcomes may be different. In infants their use cannot yet be supported in theory or in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Davidson
- Department of Anaesthesia and Pain Management, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
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Hadzidiakos D, Nowak A, Laudahn N, Baars J, Herold K, Rehberg B. Subjective assessment of depth of anaesthesia by experienced and inexperienced anaesthetists. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2006; 23:292-9. [PMID: 16438755 DOI: 10.1017/s026502150600010x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/27/2005] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To measure 'depth of anaesthesia', anaesthesiologists use a combination of observable end-points such as immobility and autonomic stability. Unconsciousness and amnesia are not reliably observable end-points, but correlate with parameters derived from the electroencephalogram. We investigated the association of subjective assessment and electroencephalographic measures of anaesthetic depth in a group of experienced (>4 yr of experience) and a group of inexperienced (<2 yr of experience) anaesthesiologists. METHODS One hundred ASA I or II patients were assigned to either group. Anaesthesiologists assessed 'anaesthetic depth' using an 11-point numeric and a 5-point verbal scale. Bispectral index and spectral entropy were recorded as electroencephalogram parameters. The association between the subjective assessment and the electroencephalogram parameters was calculated using the prediction probability, PK. RESULTS Association between subjective assessment and electroencephalographic parameters showed a tendency to a better prediction probability in the experienced group. The difference was significant (P < 0.05) for the bispectral index (PK 0.76 +/- 0.01 for experienced and 0.71 +/- 0.01 for inexperienced anaesthesiologists). In both groups, a large percentage of the data points recorded during surgery showed bispectral index values above the recommended value of 60 (13.2% in the experienced and 34.3% in the inexperienced group) despite a subjective assessment of 'deep' or 'very deep' anaesthetic depth. CONCLUSION The study demonstrates that the association between subjectively assigned values of anaesthetic depth and electroencephalographic parameters of anaesthetic depth is better for anaesthesiologists with more clinical experience. However, in the 'inexperienced' as well as 'experienced' group a high percentage of bispectral index and entropy values above 60 occurred despite a subjective assessment of adequate anaesthetic depth. Although there was no evidence for explicit memory, this may indicate a risk for memory formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Hadzidiakos
- Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Anaesthesiology, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
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Deeprose C, Andrade J. Is priming during anesthesia unconscious? Conscious Cogn 2006; 15:1-23. [PMID: 16043367 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2005.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2004] [Revised: 05/11/2005] [Accepted: 05/26/2005] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
General anesthesia provides an alternative to typical laboratory paradigms for investigating implicit learning. We assess the evidence that a simple type of learning--priming--can occur without consciousness. Although priming has been shown to be a small but persistent phenomenon in surgical patients (Merikle & Daneman, 1996) there is reason to question whether it occurs implicitly due to problems in detecting awareness using typical clinical signs. This paper reviews the published studies on priming during anesthesia that have included a measure of awareness or of anesthetic depth. We conclude that perceptual priming, but not conceptual priming, takes place in the absence of conscious awareness.
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Heinke W, Koelsch S. The effects of anesthetics on brain activity and cognitive function. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 2005; 18:625-31. [PMID: 16534303 DOI: 10.1097/01.aco.0000189879.67092.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THIS REVIEW This review presents an overview of recent findings related to changes in brain activity with increasing anesthesia mainly obtained with brain imaging and electrophysiological techniques in humans. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have revealed that the brain as a whole is not affected to the same degree by anesthetics, but that specific brain regions (and particular cognitive processes mediated by these regions) are more sensitive to anesthesia and sedation than others. Inhibition of activity in multimodal association cortices (such as parietal and prefrontal association cortices) by sedative concentrations of anesthetics produces amnesia and attention deficits, whereas activity in unimodal cortices and in the thalamus remains largely unaffected by low doses of anesthetics. Activity in the midbrain reticular formation, thalamus, and unimodal cortices appears to be suppressed only by anesthetic concentrations causing unconsciousness. Besides those regional suppressive effects, anesthetics impair functional connections between neurons in distributed cortical and thalamocortical networks, which also contributes to the state of anesthesia. SUMMARY Anesthetics produce changes in the patient's behavioral state by interacting with brain activity via at least two mechanisms: the dose-dependent global and regionally specific suppression of neuronal activity and the disruption of functional interactivity within distributed neural networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Heinke
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Therapy, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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