| We proposed that continuous monitoring within the theta-alpha-beta frequency range (6--20 Hz) of the EEG, in real time could be sufficient to maintain an adequate level of anesthesia in patients in the age range from newborn to 15 years. We designed a software tool that can record and automatically analyze the EEG within this frequency range. The software is also used to monitor transients that are short bursts of high frequency, low voltage or low frequency, high voltage episodes that represent variations in the anesthetic depths caused by surgical stimulation. At the present time, 25 pediatric patients in the age group of 3 months to 15 years have been studied. We observed a characteristic single frequency, high voltage activity, "spindling" that represented adequate anesthesia that was very well identified by the software. More importantly, the transitions between deep, light and awake stages were also clearly outlined by the system. |
