1 MAC-INCISION SEVOFLURANE PREVENTS EXPLICIT AWARENESS DURING SURGICAL SKIN INCISION AND TRACHEAL INTUBATION

Background: This study tested the hypothesis that 1 MAC-incision anest hesia secures unconsciousness during surgical skin incision and trache al intubation. Methods: Twenty patients scheduled for gynecological la parotomy were anesthetized with sevoflurane as the sole agent. At 1 MA C-incision steady-state conditions, the patients were observed for aut onomic/movement responses and wakefulness (response to verbal commands ) in the 1-min period following surgical skin incision and tracheal in tubation. Results: Blood pressure and heart rate increased significant ly secondary to both stimuli, and significantly more after tracheal in tubation than skin incision. Ten and 19 patients moved in response to skin incision and tracheal intubation, respectively. None of the patie nts showed wakefulness. Conclusion: It is concluded that 1MAC-incision sevoflurane secures unconsciousness during surgical skin incision and tracheal intubation.