Propofol blood concentration and the bispectral index predict suppression of learning during propofol/epidural anesthesia in volunteers

Abstract

Propofol is often used for sedation during regional anesthesia. We tested the hypothesis that propofol blood concentration, the Bispectral Index and the 95% spectral edge frequency predict suppression of learning during propofol/epidural anesthesia in volunteers. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that the Bispectral Index is linearly related to propofol blood concentration. Fourteen healthy, male volunteers were studied on three randomly ordered days: no propofol, target propofol blood concentration 1 μg/mL, and target propofol blood concentration 2 μg/mL. Each day, epidural anesthesia (≃T11 level) was induced using 2% 2-chloroprocaine. Propofol was infused by a computer-controlled pump,..