The EEG as a Biomarker of Perioperative Brain Vulnerability | Anesthesiology Grand Rounds

Recorded live on September 18, 2023.

In this recorded Anesthesia Grand Rounds presentation, Dr. Patrick Purdon, Professor, of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, discusses electroencephalograms (EEG) as biomarkers of perioperative brain vulnerability, particularly in elderly and cognitively impaired patients. Dr. Purdon reviews EEG oscillations such as those seen in alpha, beta, and slow waves and how they reflect different brain states and are disrupted by anesthetic drugs, correlating with loss of consciousness and cognition. Dr. Purdon then explains his aim to develop improved EEG monitoring and educational programs at Stanford to optimize brain health during anesthesia. Dr. Purdon concludes by reviewing studies that illustrate EEG patterns with different anesthetics, age groups, and clinical scenarios like awareness.

Learning Objectives:
1. Develop improved EEG monitoring technologies that can accurately detect and interpret brain oscillations in older and cognitively impaired patients, addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
2. Implement educational programs and training for anesthesiologists and other healthcare professionals on the proper use and interpretation of EEG monitoring during anesthesia, with a focus on optimizing brain health and reducing the risk of post-operative delirium and cognitive dysfunction.
3. Conduct further research to map the relationships between EEG patterns, anesthetic drug effects, and functional brain systems like arousal, sensory processing, and cognition.
4. Explore the use of EEG monitoring in other clinical settings, such as the intensive care unit (ICU).

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[tomhsiung]

A nice song the speaker was singing. Thanks for sharing the discoveries.