Effect of different end tidal concentration of sevoflurane on cortical activity using functional near infrared spectroscopy in pediatric patients

Each year, an expanding cohort of children undergoes surgical interventions under general anesthesia. Rapid induction of anesthesia, using high concentrations of inspiratory sevoflurane is a frequent technique for school-aged children owing to its good efficacy and tolerance profile. Despite substantial study into adult brain electrical activity during anaesthesia, there is remarkably little research in children, and even less on age-related consequences. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a relatively new non-invasive, real-time neuroimaging tool that measures cerebral metabolic activity. Various concentration of sevoflurane on cerebral blood flow using fNIRS in children has not been studied. Therefore, our study data will help understand if high concentration of sevoflurane during induction can lead to temporal variations in cerebral blood flow in children, which can be determined using fNIRS. Therefore, investigation on the cortical activity of sevoflurane on developing brain may lead to important clinical implications.