[Comparison of an auditory evoked potentials index and a bispectral index versus clinical signs for determining the depth of anesthesia produced by propofol or sevoflurane].

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate an anesthetic depth index (ADI) obtained from auditory evoked potentials and a bispectral EEG index (BIS) in comparison with clinical assessment of anesthetic depth using the modified observer's assessment of awareness/sedation scale (MOAA/SS), for induction of anesthesia with propofol or sevoflurane as the only agent.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The ADI and BIS were recorded simultaneously in this prospective study and compared to the MOAA/SS during the anesthetic induction of 26 adults undergoing elective heart surgery. Assignment of patients to two groups was random. Group A (n = 13) patients were induced with propofol (target dose 5 micrograms.ml-1 in 5 min). Induction in group B (n = 13) was with sevoflurane (8% tidal volume). A scheme of awake-sleeping-awake-sleeping was followed. The means of the two indexes were compared (Mann-Whitney test) one minute before the patient slept (awake) and one minute later (sleeping), and the evolution of the indexes was compared during awake/sleep and sleep/awake phase changes and while the patients were in a stable sleep phase. The sensitivity and specificity of each index was analyzed in function of the MOAA/SS. We also analyzed the time elapsing from the moment the patient fell asleep (MOAA/SS 2) until the two indexes reached published reference values (ADI = 38, BIS = 60).

RESULTS: After induction with propofol (group A) the ADI fell to 29.2 +/- 11.7 and the BIS fell to 63.5 +/- 13.4. After induction with sevoflurane (group B) the ADI fell to 33.8 +/- 14.9 and the BIS to 66.8 +/- 15. The ADI value that best discriminated between arousal and sleeping (sensitivity 100%) was 38; the BIS value that best discriminated was 60. The responses to sound in decibels (dB) during "awake/sleeping" and "sleeping/awake" phases were, respectively, -3.8 dB and -4.5 dB for the ADI and -1.5 dB and -0.8 dB for the BIS. With the patient in stable sleep, response to the two indexes was at -0.79 dB. In group A, the ADI detected MOAA/SS 2 significantly earlier (ADI 13.1 +/- 30 s; BIS 56 +/- 36 s; p < 0.05). No patient reported remembering the study period.

CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring anesthetic depth with the ADI or BIS was technically easy and effective for detecting whether patients were awake or sleeping. The ADI response was faster and identified awake/sleeping and sleeping/awake phase changes better than did the BIS.