[A graphic presentation of the anesthesiologist's action pattern].

The action patterns of anesthesiologists are different among individuals. We have developed a graphic presentation system for anesthesiologists' action patterns using computer graphics. The resulting representation is called "thought map". Data were obtained from 6 anesthesiologists (4 certified instructors and 2 new doctors) with a time interval of 2 years, regarding the use of 3 drugs (enflurane, sevoflurane and isoflurane). The "maps" were compared among individuals, dates and drugs. The following results were obtained: 1) significant differences existed among individuals, 2) during the 2-year time interval, 2 new drugs were introduced and the practice pattern alterations were seen in the maps, 3) for the 2 new anesthesiologists, the maps show the process of professional knowledge acquisition. We propose an index ("immovable rate"), denoting the proportion of the map where concentration of the drug didn't change. This index is to be used for evaluating human thinking.