British journal of anaesthesia
-
Primary somatosensory cortical mass responses have been shown to exhibit dose-dependent changes in latency when general anaesthetics are administered. Here we describe a system in which the latency of evoked responses was measured automatically in real time in five animals. Latency changes were used to operate a closed-loop control of propofol delivery by intravenous infusion. ⋯ The system maintained a mean increase in latency of 1.27 (SD 0.42) ms. The mean statistical dispersion index of data obtained during the controlled period was 1.23 (0.3); in an ideal controllable system it approximates to 1. Such a system may provide a means for the automatic delivery of anaesthetics.
-
In vitro, halogenated agents reduce the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to alveolar hypoxia in isolated perfused lungs. However, studies in intact animals have been less convincing. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of sevoflurane on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) in anaesthetized piglets using the pressure/cardiac index relationship (P/Q). ⋯ In hypoxia, pressure gradients (PAP-LAP) increased at every level of Q, thus demonstrating active pulmonary vasoconstriction. Sevoflurane at 1 MAC did not affect these P/Q relationships in hyperoxia or hypoxia as compared with baseline. Sevoflurane at a clinically relevant concentration (1 MAC) has no significant effect on HPV in anaesthetized piglets.