[Effect of dexmedetomidine on intraoperative somatosensory evoked potential monitoring].

Background: Intraoperative somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP) monitoring has become a part of neurosurgical procedures. In this study, we evaluated the effect of dexmedetomidine on SEP monitoring during neurosurgical anesthesia.

Methods: Eight patients scheduled for neurosurgery were studied. Anesthesia was maintained with continuous infusion of propofol at 2 microg x ml(-1) concentration using target controlled infusion (TCI). A loading dose of dexmedetomidine was infused at 6 microg x kg(-1) hr(-1) for 10 min and SEP was recorded. Infusion of dexmedetomidine was continued at 0.5 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) for 10 min and SEP was recorded. We measured the change of amplitude and latency of SEP (N20-P25) and compared to baseline values.

Results: There was no statistically significant change in the cortical SEP amplitude (98.0 +/- 18.1% after a loading dose of dexmedetomidine and 112.7 +/- 16.8% at 0.5 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) of dexmedetomidine, respectively) or latency (101.5 +/- 1.7% after a loading dose of dexmedetomidine and 101.9 +/- 1.7% at 0.5 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) of dexmedetomidine, respectively). Mean blood pressure rose from 81 mmHg to 95 mmHg after initiation of dexmedetomidine infusion. Heart rate did not change.

Conclusions: These findings suggest that dexmedetomidine has possibilities to produce an ideal environment as an anesthetic adjunct in patients requiring intrapoerative SEP monitoring.