Erschienen in:
16.02.2018 | Editorials
Monitoring the brain strikes a discordant note for anesthesiologists
verfasst von:
Michael S. Avidan, MBBCh, FCASA, Thomas J. Graetz, MD
Erschienen in:
Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie
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Ausgabe 5/2018
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Excerpt
We have less information regarding the functioning of the brain than of the other vital organs during general anesthesia. This is sobering considering that the brain is the most vital of vital organs and is also the target organ of general anesthesia. Anesthesiologists have developed sophisticated monitors and understanding of human physiology, especially as it pertains to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Perturbations in these systems, however, occur as “collateral damage” with the administration of general anesthesia. In contrast, the profound alterations occurring in brain function with general anesthesia are therapeutically indicated. With desirable general anesthesia, there are neurological changes in attention, thinking, nociception, memory formation, and consciousness – with a state of oblivion produced that is more akin to coma than sleep.
1 It would be useful if we were able to monitor these various neurological changes accurately. …