Paediatric anaesthesia
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Advances in electroencephalogram (EEG) processing have produced new interest in measuring anesthesia using the EEG. There are a number of EEG-based anesthesia 'depth' monitors now available and their use in pediatric anesthesia is increasing. Although these monitors have been extensively studied in adults, there are relatively few studies examining their validity or use in children. ⋯ Although the outputs from these monitors do not closely represent any true physiological entity, they can be used as guides for anesthesia and in so doing have improved outcomes in adults. In older children the physiology, anatomy and clinical observations indicate the performance of the monitors may be similar to that in adults, although the clinical relevance of outcomes may be different. In infants their use cannot yet be supported in theory or in practice.