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Review
. 2021 Jul;35(2):159-169.
doi: 10.1016/j.bpa.2020.10.007. Epub 2020 Oct 31.

Does electroencephalographic burst suppression still play a role in the perioperative setting?

Francisco Almeida Lobo  1 , Susana Vacas  2 , Andrea O Rossetti  3 , Chiara Robba  4 , Fabio Silvio Taccone  5
Affiliations
Review

Does electroencephalographic burst suppression still play a role in the perioperative setting?

Francisco Almeida Lobo et al. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2021 Jul.

Abstract

With the widespread use of electroencephalogram [EEG] monitoring during surgery or in the Intensive Care Unit [ICU], clinicians can sometimes face the pattern of burst suppression [BS]. The BS pattern corresponds to the continuous quasi-periodic alternation between high-voltage slow waves [the bursts] and periods of low voltage or even isoelectricity of the EEG signal [the suppression] and is extremely rare outside ICU and the operative room. BS can be secondary to increased anesthetic depth or a marker of cerebral damage, as a therapeutic endpoint [i.e., refractory status epilepticus or refractory intracranial hypertension]. In this review, we report the neurophysiological features of BS to better define its role during intraoperative and critical care settings.

Keywords: brain protection; burst suppression; electroencephalogram; postoperative cognitive disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
4 EEG channels showing the pattern of BS.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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