Differences in the topographical distribution of EEG activity during surgical anaesthesia and on emergence from volatile anesthetics.

Computerized processing of a 16 channel EEG allows mapping and display of cortical electrical activity in a useful mode for intraoperative monitoring. We studied the topographical distribution of EEG-activity displayed as spectral maps comparing inhalational anaesthesia with isoflurane or enflurane during surgical anaesthesia and emergence. Two groups of nine patients each were anaesthetized with one of the two regimens. The EEG patterns during steady state end-tidal concentrations of isoflurane (0.7-1.1%) or enflurane (0.8-1.3%) showed highest activity in the frontal and occipital areas. At near awakening the frontal and occipital dominance of delta activity disappeared in both groups and …