[Neurological examination in patients undergoing sedation with propofol: a descriptive study]. / Exploracion neurologica en pacientes sometidos a sedacion con propofol: estudio descriptivo.

INTRODUCTION: The neurological examination is a resource used in evaluating patients who are in coma. Anaesthesia can be a factor that exerts an influence on the findings. We evaluated the examination of the comatose patient in the case of patients anaesthetised with propofol in order to define its clinical value. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted among those who had undergone heart surgery in the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital during the months of April and May 2011. Aspects that were analysed were the examination of the anaesthetic coma, pharmacological or medical factors that can have an influence and a full neurological examination following recovery. Patients with previous neurological symptoms were excluded. RESULTS: Thirty patients were selected (16 males and 14 females); mean age: 72 ± 10 years. All the patients were sedated with propofol. During sedation, 17 (46.7%) presented unreactive pupils. No spontaneous eye movements were observed in 100% of the sample. Ocular alterations in primary position were observed in 23.3% of them. Oculocephalic reflexes were absent in 93.3% and oculovestibular reflexes, in 100%; the corneal reflex, was absent in 70% (with asymmetry), as was the ciliospinal reflex, in 83.3%. The algesic motor response was absent in 93.3%, as were the cutaneous plantar extensor reflexes, in 20%; and 66.7% were indifferent. Following anaesthesia, the neurological examination was normal in 80%, there were slight orientation impairments in 16.7% and a hemispheric syndrome was found in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Anaesthesia with propofol alters the reversible cutaneous-plantar, pupillary, trunk and motor response reflexes on withdrawing sedation. The alterations may be asymmetrical. Neurological examinations should not be used in the case of patients sedated with propofol in order to make clinical decisions.

TITLE: Exploracion neurologica en pacientes sometidos a sedacion con propofol: estudio descriptivo.Introduccion. La exploracion neurologica es un recurso en la evaluacion de los pacientes en coma. La anestesia puede ser un factor influyente en los hallazgos. Evaluamos la exploracion del paciente en coma en pacientes anestesiados con propofol para definir su valor clinico. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio prospectivo en sometidos a cirugia cardiaca en los cuidados intensivos de un hospital terciario durante los meses de abril y mayo de 2011. Se analiza la exploracion del coma anestesico, factores farmacologicos o medicos que pueden influir y exploracion neurologica completa tras la recuperacion. Se excluyeron pacientes con sintomas neurologicos previos. Resultados. Se seleccionan 30 pacientes (16 hombres y 14 mujeres); edad media: 72 ± 10 años. Todos los pacientes estaban sedados con propofol. Durante la sedacion, 17 (46,7%) presentaban pupilas arreactivas. En el 100% no se observaron movimientos espontaneos de los ojos. El 23,3% presentaba alteracion ocular en posicion primaria. Los reflejos oculocefalicos estaban ausentes en el 93,3%, y los oculovestibulares, en el 100%; el reflejo corneal, en el 70% (con asimetria); el espinociliar, en el 83,3%. La respuesta motora algesica estaba ausente en el 93,3%; en un 20%, los reflejos cutaneoplantares extensores; e indiferentes, en el 66,7%. Tras la anestesia, la exploracion neurologica fue normal en el 80%, hubo leves alteraciones de orientacion en un 16,7% y se encontro un sindrome hemisferico en un paciente. Conclusiones. La anestesia con propofol altera los reflejos pupilares, del tronco, respuestas motoras y reflejo cutaneoplantar reversibles al retirar la sedacion. Las alteraciones pueden ser asimetricas. No se deberia utilizar la exploracion neurologica en el paciente sedado con propofol para la toma de decisiones clinicas.

Exploración neurológica en pacientes sometidos a sedación con propofol: estudio descriptivo / eurological examination in patients undergoing sedation with propofol: a descriptive study

Introducción. La exploración neurológica es un recurso en la evaluación de los pacientes en coma. La anestesia puede ser un factor influyente en los hallazgos. Evaluamos la exploración del paciente en coma en pacientes anestesiados con propofol para definir su valor clínico. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio prospectivo en sometidos a cirugía cardíaca en los cuidados intensivos de un hospital terciario durante los meses de abril y mayo de 2011. Se analiza la exploración del coma anestésico, factores farmacológicos o médicos que pueden influir y exploración neurológica completa tras la recuperación. Se excluyeron pacientes con síntomas neurológicos previos. Resultados. Se seleccionan 30 pacientes (16 hombres y 14 mujeres); edad media: 72 ± 10 años. Todos los pacientes estaban sedados con propofol. Durante la sedación, 17 (46,7%) presentaban pupilas arreactivas. En el 100% no se observaron movimientos espontáneos de los ojos. El 23,3% presentaba alteración ocular en posición primaria. Los reflejos oculocefálicos estaban ausentes en el 93,3%, y los oculovestibulares, en el 100%; el reflejo corneal, en el 70% (con asimetría); el espinociliar, en el 83,3%. La respuesta motora algésica estaba ausente en el 93,3%; en un 20%, los reflejos cutaneoplantares extensores; e indiferentes, en el 66,7%. Tras la anestesia, la exploración neurológica fue normal en el 80%, hubo leves alteraciones de orientación en un 16,7% y se encontró un síndrome hemisférico en un paciente. Conclusiones. La anestesia con propofol altera los reflejos pupilares, del tronco, respuestas motoras y reflejo cutaneoplantar reversibles al retirar la sedación. Las alteraciones pueden ser asimétricas. No se debería utilizar la exploración neurológica en el paciente sedado con propofol para la toma de decisiones clínicas (AU)

Introduction. The neurological examination is a resource used in evaluating patients who are in coma. Anaesthesia can be a factor that exerts an influence on the findings. We evaluated the examination of the comatose patient in the case of patients anaesthetised with propofol in order to define its clinical value. Patients and methods. A prospective study was conducted among those who had undergone heart surgery in the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital during the months of April and May 2011. Aspects that were analysed were the examination of the anaesthetic coma, pharmacological or medical factors that can have an influence and a full neurological examination following recovery. Patients with previous neurological symptoms were excluded. Results. Thirty patients were selected (16 males and 14 females); mean age: 72 ± 10 years. All the patients were sedated with propofol. During sedation, 17 (46.7%) presented unreactive pupils. No spontaneous eye movements were observed in 100% of the sample. Ocular alterations in primary position were observed in 23.3% of them. Oculocephalic reflexes were absent in 93.3% and oculovestibular reflexes, in 100%; the corneal reflex, was absent in 70% (with asymmetry), as was the ciliospinal reflex, in 83.3%. The algesic motor response was absent in 93.3%, as were the cutaneous plantar extensor reflexes, in 20%; and 66.7% were indifferent. Following anaesthesia, the neurological examination was normal in 80%, there were slight orientation impairments in 16.7% and a hemispheric syndrome was found in one patient. Conclusions. Anaesthesia with propofol alters the reversible cutaneous-plantar, pupillary, trunk and motor response reflexes on withdrawing sedation. The alterations may be asymmetrical. Neurological examinations should not be used in the case of patients sedated with propofol in order to make clinical decisions (AU)