Epileptiform activity during induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane prior to elective carotid endarterectomy

Abstract

The optimal anesthetic technique for carotid endarterectomy is still controversial. For general anesthesia, various induction agents have been used. We present two patients with asymptomatic high-grade carotid stenosis where induction with sevoflurane resulted in epileptiform discharges seen on perioperative electroencephalogram monitoring without adverse clinical sequelae. The occurrence of epileptogenic electroencephalogram during sevoflurane anesthesia has been widely described despite its popular use in pediatric anesthesia. This phenomenon, however, has not been previously described during electroencephalogram monitoring in carotid surgery. The authors suggest that induction anesthesia with sevoflurane should be avoided in this patient population especially where routine electroencephalogram monitoring is not performed.