Anesthetic and proconvulsant effects of ketamine on EEG

Shaila Gowda, Charles Akos Szabó

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic with proconvulsant properties that acts by noncompetitively blocking the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in the central nervous system (CNS). In general, scalp electroencephalography (EEG) demonstrates low amplitude paroxysmal fast activity (PFA) at low doses, associated with mild sedation, and slow waves as well as burst suppression (BS) pattern associated with unconsciousness at higher doses. Intracranial EEG studies support initial changes of burst suppression pattern occurring in the parieto-occipital regions before frontal propagation suggesting that initial anesthetic effects are associated with activation in the posterior hemispheres, especially the occipital lobes. Initially in people predisposed to epilepsy, ketamine may lower seizure thresholds and increase interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) within minutes of administration. In this chapter, we will discuss EEG changes encountered with ketamine administration and compare its anesthetic and proconvulsant effects on EEG with other anesthetics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationThe Neurobiology, Physiology, and Psychology of Pain
PublisherElsevier
Pages255-263
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9780128210666
ISBN (Print)9780128206089
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2021

Keywords

  • Anesthetics
  • Electroencephalogram
  • Epileptiform discharges
  • Ketamine
  • NMDA receptors
  • Proconvulsant

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine
  • General Neuroscience

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