Galante Dario, Fortarezza Donatella, Caggiano Maria, de Francisci Giovanni, Pedrotti Dino, Caruselli Marco
University Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital Ospedali Riuniti of Foggia, Italy.
University Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital Ospedali Riuniti of Foggia, Italy.
Braz J Anesthesiol. 2015 Sep-Oct;65(5):379-83. doi: 10.1016/j.bjane.2014.07.003. Epub 2014 Oct 25.
The bispectral index (BIS) is a parameter derived by electroencephalography (EEG) which provides a direct measurement of the effects of sedatives and anesthetics on the brain and offers guidance on the adequacy of anesthesia. The literature lacks studies on BIS monitoring in pediatric patients with congenital brain disease undergoing general anesthesia.
A 13-year-old child weighing 32kg, suffering from lobar holoprosencephaly, underwent surgery in which the bispectral index (BIS) monitoring the depth of anesthesia showed an abnormal response. Detailed analysis of the trends of BIS values in the different observation times demonstrated sudden falls and repetitive values of BIS likely related to repetitive epileptiform electrical activity caused by sevoflurane.
The BIS is a very useful monitoring tool for assessing the degree of depth of anesthesia and to analyze the electroencephalographic variations of anesthetics. Particular attention should be given to patients with congenital disorders of the central nervous system in which the BIS may give abnormal responses that do not reflect an accurate assessment of the depth of anesthesia.
