Abstract
The effects of etomidate on visual evoked potentials (VEP) were studied in 22 patients undergoing gynaecological procedures. They were divided into two groups: the etomidate group (12 patients) and the fentanyl-N2O- etomidate group (ten patients). In the etomidate group, etomidate 0.3 mg · kg−1 was given as a bolus injection during induction of anaesthesia which was followed by an infusion of etomidate 0.05 mg · kg−1 · min−1. No significant changes were observed in the amplitudes of P100 or N70. Latencies of the P60, N70, and P100 were slightly increased. In thefentanyl-N2O-etomidate group, a bolus injection of 0.3 mg · kg−1 of etomidate was given during anaesthesia with 3–4 μg · kg−1 of fentanyl and 60 per cent nitrous oxide. The amplitude of the P100 was significantly decreased and the latencies of the P60 and N70 were signficantly increased. In conclusion, interpretation of the VEP during etomidate administration alone was not hard to perform but, when given together with fentanyl-nitrous oxide anaesthesia, the VEP was affected significantly making its interpretation difficult.
Résumé
Nous avons évalué les effets de l’étomidate sur les potentiels évoqués visuels (PEV) lors de 22 interventions gynécologiques. Aux douze patients du groupe étomidate, nous avons injecté un bolus de 0,3 mg · kg−1 suivi d’une perfusion de 0,05 mg · kg−1 d’étomidate, sans observer d’autre effet qu’une légère augmentation des périodes de latence de P60, N70 et P100 alors que les amplitudes de N70 et de P100 ne changeaient pas. En sus de 60 pour cent de protoxyde d’azote et de 3–4 μg · kg−1 de fentanyl, on injectait aux dix autres patients, un bolus de 0,3 mg · kg−1 d’étomidate, ce qui amenait une diminution significative de l’amplitude de P100 et une augmentation significative des périodes de latence de P60 et de N70. Done, l’interprétation des PEV est facile sous anesthésie à l’étomidate employé seul mais elle se complique si on ajoute du protoxyde d’azote et du fentanyl au régime anesthésique.
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Chi, O.Z., Subramoni, J. & Jasaitis, D. Visual evoked potentials during etomidate administration in humans. Can J Anaesth 37, 452–456 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03005626
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03005626