Brain Dynamics in Different Stages of Arousal and Anesthesia



Status:Terminated
Conditions:Neurology, Epilepsy
Therapuetic Areas:Neurology, Other
Healthy:No
Age Range:15 - 65
Updated:11/8/2017
Start Date:August 22, 2011
End Date:April 8, 2016

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The principle aim of this project is to characterize the changes in relative stability of the
intrinsic brain dynamics during onset of sleep and induction of general anesthesia. The
investigators hypothesize that brain dynamics in the awake state are critical akin to
physical systems close to a second order phase transition and that during loss of
consciousness the dynamics move away from the critical point.

1. Once the electrode array is placed during the first surgery (on the day of admission) we
will record brain activity as subjects are waking up from anesthesia

2. While subjects are staying at New York Presbyterian hospital before the second surgery
we will record brain activity. Most of the recordings will be performed as subjects are
going to sleep naturally, but other recordings will be acquired during waking hours.
This will not interfere with normal monitoring of seizure activity.

3. Final recording session is immediately before the second operation as general anesthesia
is gradually induced. During this time subjects may be asked to follow simple commands
like: "Open your eyes" in order to determine the level of consciousness. Also during
this session, if arterial line is placed by the anesthesiologist for real-time blood
pressure monitoring we will collect several small (~1 ml) blood samples to determine
blood concentration of anesthetics. Approximately 1 teaspoon of blood will be obtained
in total. No additional venipuncture will be necessary.

No additional invasive procedures will be performed for the purposes of the study. We will
use the same electrode array as is typically used for monitoring and mapping of epilepsy.
Subjects will receive the same anesthetic agent as is commonly used for induction of
anesthesia for this surgery (propofol). Subjects will be monitored in the same way as is
normally done during surgical procedures and during your stay at New York Presbyterian
hospital.

As a part of the study subjects may be asked simple questions as they go under anesthesia.

We may collect several small blood samples (described above) to determine the concentration
of anesthetic agents.

Inclusion Criteria:

1.Patients referred for epilepsy resection surgery with Dr. Theodore Schwartz

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patient refusal.

2. Patients requiring rapid sequence induction because of concerns about delayed gastric
emptying as a result of diabetes or other medical conditions.

3. Age less than 15 or greater than 65 years old.

4. Pregnant or nursing.

5. Inability to follow simple commands such as "Open your eyes" and "Squeeze my hand" for
any reason.

6. Severe mental disability.

7. Allergy to propofol or any components of the formulation.

8. Poor suitability for propofol infusion because of other medical concerns such as
severe heart disease.

9. Patients deemed to have a difficult airway thus necessitating awake fiberoptic
intubation.

10. Patients with severe sleep apnea requiring CPAP/BiPAP.
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