Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T01:56:49.275Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Postoperative changes in the full-field electroretinogram following sevoflurane anaesthesia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2004

G. Iohom
Affiliation:
Cork University Hospital and University College Cork, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Cork, Ireland
A. Whyte
Affiliation:
Cork University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Cork, Ireland
T. Flynn
Affiliation:
Cork University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Cork, Ireland
G. O'Connor
Affiliation:
Cork University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Cork, Ireland
G. Shorten
Affiliation:
Cork University Hospital and University College Cork, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Cork, Ireland
Get access

Extract

Summary

Background and objective: We tested the hypothesis that disturbances of the visual pathway persist following general anaesthesia, even after normal clinical discharge criteria have been met.

Methods: We performed full-field flash electroretinography in the right eye of 10 unpremedicated ASA I patients who underwent N2O/sevoflurane anaesthesia. Electroretinograms were recorded preoperatively, immediately after discharge from the recovery room and 2 h after discontinuation of sevoflurane. The time at which postanaesthesia discharge score first exceeded 9 was also noted. Data were analysed using paired, one-tailed Student's t-test.

Results: Latency of the b-wave on the photopic electroretinogram was greater at each postoperative time point (30.5 ± 0.9 and 30 ± 1.3 ms), compared to preoperative values (29.2 ± 0.8 ms, P < 0.001 and P = 0.04, respectively). The A–B amplitude of the b-wave was less postoperatively (220.3 ± 52.7 and 210.3 ± 42.7 μV) compared to values before operation (248.1 ± 57.6 μV, P = 0.03 and P = 0.01, respectively). Oscillatory potential latencies were greater at each postoperative time point (21.4 ± 0.5 and 20.8 ± 0.6 ms) compared to before operation (20.4 ± 0.4 ms, P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). Oscillatory potential amplitudes were less at the first postoperative time point (17.5 ± 6.1 μV), compared to preoperative values (22 ± 6.4 μV, P = 0.04).

Conclusions: Postoperative electroretinogram abnormalities are consistently present in patients who have undergone N2O/sevoflurane anaesthesia. These abnormalities persist beyond the time at which standard clinical discharge criteria have been met.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
2004 European Society of Anaesthesiology

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Troy AM, Cunningham AJ. Ambulatory surgery: an overview. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 2002; 15: 647657.Google Scholar
Iohom G, Collins I, Murphy D, et al. Postoperative changes in visual evoked potentials and cognitive function tests following sevoflurane anaesthesia. Br J Anaesth 2001; 87: 855859.Google Scholar
Karwosky C. Introduction to the origins of electroretinographic components. In: Hackenlively JR, Arden GB, eds. Principle and Practice of Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision. St Louis, USA: Mosby-Year Book, 1991: 8791.
Carr RE, Siegel IM. Electrodiagnostic Testing of the Visual System: A Clinical Guide.Philadelphia, USA: F. A. Davis Company, 1990: 38, 1215, 143144.
Ikeda H. Clinical electroretinography. In: Halliday AM, ed. Evoked Potentials in Clinical Testing. Bath, UK: Churchill Livingstone, 1982: 121148.
Marmor MF, Arden GB, Nilsson SE, Zrenner E. Standard for clinical electroretinography. International Standardization Committee. Arch Ophthalmol 1989; 107: 816819.Google Scholar
Marmor MF, Zrenner E. Standard for clinical electroretinography (1999 update). International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision. Doc Ophthalmol 1999; 97: 143156.Google Scholar
Bond A, Lader M. The use of analogue scales in rating subjective feelings. Br J Med Psychol 1974; 47: 211218.Google Scholar
Aldrete JA, Kroulik D. A postanaesthetic recovery score. Anesth Analg 1970; 49: 924934.Google Scholar
Aldrete JA. The postanaesthesia recovery score revisited. J Clin Anesth 1995; 7: 8991.Google Scholar
Chung F. Recovery pattern and home-readiness after ambulatory surgery. Anesth Analg 1995; 80: 896902.Google Scholar
Marshall S, Chung F. Assessment of ‘home readiness’: discharge criteria and postdischarge complications. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 1997; 10: 445450.Google Scholar
Sivilotti L, Nistri A. GABA receptor mechanism in the central nervous system. Prog Neurobiol 1991; 36: 3592.Google Scholar
Enz R, Cutting GR. Molecular composition of GABAC receptors. Vision Res 1998; 38: 14311441.Google Scholar
Dong CJ, Hare WA. GABAC feedback pathway modulates the amplitude and kinetics of ERG b-wave in a mammalian retina in vivo. Vision Res 2002; 42: 10811087.Google Scholar
Gottlob I, Wundsch L, Tuppy FK. The rabbit electroretinogram: effect of GABA and its antagonists. Vision Res 1988; 28: 203210.Google Scholar
Kapousta-Bruneau NV. Opposite effects of GABA(A) and GABA(C) receptor antagonists on the b-wave of ERG recorded from the isolated rat retina. Vision Res 2000; 40: 16531665.Google Scholar
Blain L, Lachapelle P, Molotchnikoff S. The effect of acute trichloroethylene exposure on electroretinogram components. Neurotoxicol Teratol 1990; 12: 633636.Google Scholar
Satoh H, Fukuda N, Kuriki H, et al. A procedure for recording electroretinogram (ERG) in conscious monkeys, and effects of some drugs. Nippon Yakurigaku Zasshi 1980; 76: 581594.Google Scholar
Wioland N, Bonaventure N. Photopic c-wave in the chicken ERG: sensitivity to sodium azide, epinephrine, sodium iodate, barbiturates, and other general anesthetics. Doc Ophthalmol 1985; 60: 407412.Google Scholar
Chynoransky M. The effect of diazepam on the electroretinogram. Bratisl Lek Listy 1990; 91: 527532.Google Scholar
Andreasson S, Tomqvist K, Ehinger B. Full-field electroretinograms during general anesthesia in normal children compared to examination with topical anesthesia. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1993; 71: 491495.Google Scholar
Yagi M, Tashiro C, Yoshiya I. Changes in the electroretinogram during enflurane anesthesia. Masui 1989; 38: 14381443.Google Scholar
Raitta C, Karhunen U, Seppälainen AM. Changes in the electroretinogram and visual evoked potentials during general anaesthesia using enflurane. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 1982; 218: 294296.Google Scholar
Wongpichedchai S, Hansen RM, Koka B, Gudas VM, Fulton AB. Effects of halothane on children's electroretinograms. Ophthalmology 1992; 99: 13091312.Google Scholar
Wasserschaff M, Schmidt JG. Electroretinographic responses to the addition of nitrous oxide to halothane in rats. Doc Ophthalmol 1986; 64: 347354.Google Scholar
Hapfelmeier G, Schneck H, Kochs E. Sevoflurane potentiates and blocks GABA-induced currents through recombinant α1β2γ3 GABAA receptors: implications for an enhanced GABAergic transmission. Eur J Anaesthesiol 2001; 18: 377383.Google Scholar
Yamakura T, Harris RA. Effects of gaseous anesthetics nitrous oxide and xenon on ligand-gated ion channels. Comparison with isoflurane and ethanol. Anesthesiology 2000; 93: 10951101.Google Scholar
Eger IIEI, Gong D, Koblin DD, et al. The effect of anesthetic duration on kinetic and recovery characteristics of desflurane versus sevoflurane, and on the kinetic characteristics of compound A, in volunteers. Anesth Analg 1998; 86: 414421.Google Scholar
Besch D, Kurtenbach A, Apfelstedt-Sylla E, et al. Visual field constriction and electrophysiological changes associated with vigabatrin. Doc Ophthalmol 2002; 104: 151170.Google Scholar