Reactions 877 - 10 Nov 2001

■ Sevoflurane can induce epileptiform EEG activitywhen used in children for inducing anaesthesia,especially when used with controlled ventilation, sayresearchers from Finland. They monitored EEG activityin 31 paediatric patients (aged 2–12 years) whoreceived sevoflurane 8% in O2 in N2O 1:2 by facemask for induction of anaesthesia. Three types ofinterictal epileptiform discharge were noted:suppression with spikes (SSP), rhythmic polyspikes(PSR) and periodic epileptiform discharges (PED), butno motor manifestations were seen. Overall, interictalepileptiform discharge occurred in 88% of patientswho were randomised to undergo controlledventilation (SSP 25%; PSR 44%; PED 44%) and 20% ofthose randomised to breathe spontaneously (SSP 0%;PSR 20%; PED 0%).Vakkuri A, et al. Sevoflurane mask induction of anaesthesia is associated withepileptiform EEG in children. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica 45:805-811, Aug 2001 800880369

1

Reactions 10 Nov 2001 No. 8770114-9954/10/0877-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved