Processed Electroencephalogram In Pediatric Patients - A Survey Among Portuguese Anesthesiologists

Abstract

Background: In the pediatric population, anesthetic depths depend not only on the type of anesthetic used but also on changes related to age and cerebral maturation. The need for monitoring is accentuated by the high risk of awareness or burst suppression. This cross-sectional survey was designed to obtain a global perspective on clinical practice and the opinions of practicing anesthesiologists in Portugal about the use of processed EEG in pediatric patients. Methods: Anesthesiologists working in public or private Portuguese institutions where pediatric anesthesia is performed were invited to respond to an online questionnaire about the use of processed EEG in pediatric age. Results: The survey had a response rate of 70% (N=133). A total of 123 responses were considered for analysis. In pediatric age, 41.5% use processed EEG in general anesthesia, 15.5% in intravenous anesthesia, and 37.3% depending on the surgical procedure and the patient. Forty-five percent of the anesthesiologists use processed EEG regardless of age group, and only 2.8% in children under 1 year. In children over 10 years old, processed EEG is used in 43.1% of "most situations" and 30.9% "always". Conclusions: Processed EEG is less used in children under the age of 1 year, and the primary reason is the lack of confidence in knowledge for proper interpretation of the data. The absence of equipment is a universally cited reason across all ages. Spectrogram and the numerical indices of processed EEG are the parameters most valued by anesthesiologists.