Quantitative surface electromyography in anesthesia and critical care

The frontalis muscle spontaneous (SEMG) and electrically evoked (EEMG) electromyograms were recorded in 4 different clinical settings. Using a standardized isoflurane-based anesthetic protocol, Study 1 examined the SEMG response to both surgical and acoustic stimuli. The acoustic SEMG response was also examined in comatose head-injured patients. Study 2 used the EEMG to compare the extent of vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade on the frontalis and hypothenar muscles in both anesthetized and comatose patients. In Study 3 head-injured comatose patients were used to investigate the relationship between SEMG changes and transient elevations in intracranial pressure (ICP). The effect of opiate analgesics on the pain-activated SEMG in conscious post-operative patients was investigated in Study 4.