The Influence of Anesthetic Drug on ABR

Abstract

ABR recordings were applied for 26 subjects under of anesthesia with enflurane, halothane or thalamonal.
Wave III of ABR revealed a prolonged latency about 0.1ms. and wave V about 0.4ms. under enflurane anesthesia. However, its dose-effects were not demonstrated, and consequently latencies of ABR were stable within a certain range of the anesthetic dosages.
Similar tendencies were recognized under halothane and thalamonal anesthesia.
These results suggest that ABR is a quite effiient tool for monitoring brainstem integrity during surgery under general anesthesia.
Taking into consideration of affects of anesthetics, the control recording of ABR seems to be important prior to neurosurgical manipulation.