SUFENTANIL AND NITROUS-OXIDE ANESTHESIA FOR THE RECORDING OF TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC MOTOR EVOKED-POTENTIALS IN DOGS

Transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials were recorded from the e xtensor carpi radialis muscle of the forelimbs and from the cranial ti bial muscle of the hindlimbs of anaesthetised dogs. The dogs were prem edicated with droperidol and fentanyl and a light plane of anaesthesia was induced and maintained with sufentanil and nitrous oxide, The pot entials recorded under sufentanil and nitrous oxide anaesthesia were s uppressed in comparison with baseline recordings under droperidol and fentanyl sedation: their latencies were significantly increased and th eir amplitudes significantly decreased (P<0.05). However, the potentia ls could be recorded reliably in all the dogs and with very good repro ducibility, This narcotic anaesthesia also allowed sensory evoked pote ntials to be recorded reliably.