The Eleveld pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic model for propofol predicts bispectral index (BIS) processed electroencephalogram values from estimated effect-site concentrations. We investigated agreement between measured and predicted BIS values during total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA).
Forty participants undergoing lower limb surgery received TIVA using remifentanil target-controlled infusions and propofol by manually controlled, target-guided infusions based upon the Eleveld model and directed by two pharmacokinetic computer simulation applications: PKPD Tools and StelSim. We evaluated the predictive performance of the Eleveld model by calculating median prediction errors (BIS units) and by Bland–Altman analyses. We also performed |Bland-Altman analysis of supplementary data provided by the authors of the Eleveld model.
Whereas median prediction errors were small (MDPE –1.9, MDAPE 10), the ranges were wide (–18.5 to 24.3 and 1.7 to 24.3). The proportion of MDAPE >10 BIS units was 47.8%. Bland–Altman analysis showed a small mean bias (–0.52 BIS units) with wide limits of agreement (–27.7 to 26.2). Each participant's limits of agreement did not meet the requirements for declaring interchangeability between the two measurements. The measurement differences depended on the BIS values, as indicated by the positive slopes of the differences vs BIS values. Bland–Altman analysis of the Eleveld model supplementary data revealed similar results.
BIS predictions by the Eleveld model should be interpreted with caution. In spite of the acceptable MDPE and MDAPE, there are unacceptable degrees of both within-subject and between-subject variation during propofol target-controlled infusions. This limits the use of adjusting targeted concentrations to achieve desired simulated BIS values with confidence.
Repeated exposure to sevoflurane during early developmental stages is a risk factor for social behavioural disorders, but the underlying neuropathological mechanisms remain unclear. As the hippocampal cornu ammonis area 2 subregion (CA2) is a critical centre for social cognitive functions, we hypothesised that sevoflurane exposure can lead to social behavioural disorders by disrupting neuronal activity in the CA2.
Neonatal mice were anaesthetised with sevoflurane 3 vol% for 2 h on postnatal day (PND) 6, 8, and 10. Bulk RNA sequencing of CA2 tissue was conducted on PND 12. Social cognitive function was assessed by behavioural experiments, and in vivo CA2 neuronal activity was recorded by multi-channel electrodes on PND 60–65.
Repeated postnatal exposure to sevoflurane impaired social novelty recognition in adulthood. It also caused a decrease in the synchronisation of neuronal spiking, gamma oscillation power, and spike phase-locking between GABAergic spiking and gamma oscillations in the CA2 during social interaction. After sevoflurane exposure, we observed a reduction in the density and dendritic complexity of CA2 GABAergic neurones, and decreased expression of transcription factors critical for GABAergic neuronal development after.
Repeated postnatal exposure to sevoflurane disturbed the development of CA2 GABAergic neurones through downregulation of essential transcription factors. This resulted in impaired electrophysiological function in adult GABAergic neurones, leading to social recognition deficits. These findings reveal a potential electrophysiological mechanism underlying the long-term social recognition deficits induced by sevoflurane and highlight the crucial role of CA2 GABAergic neurones in social interactions.