[Chemosensory Evoked Changes of Breathing Pattern During Propofol-induced Sedation]

Abstract

Background: The affective valence of an olfactory stimulus will be encoded in its respiratory response. Unpleasant odors shorten the inhalation of the first stimulated breaths in wakefulness and sleep. The aim of the present study was to assess the effekt of intravenous anesthetic propofol on the chemosensory evoked changes of breathing pattern.

Material and methods: 13 ASA 1/2 patients got intranasal chemosensory stimuli (H2S and CO2) by flow-olfactometer during "deep" (EEG-based bispectral analysis, BIS:≤60) and "moderate" (BIS>60) propofol-induced sedation with preserved spontaneous breathing. The duration of the in- and exhalation was analyzed for 5 breaths before and for 2 breaths after the onset of stimulation.

Results: During deep sedation respiratory reactions were observed only by CO2 irritation. During moderate sedation respiratory responses were evoked by H2S stimuli, too. In moderate sedation extensions of the inhalations of the first breath after both the unpleasant pure olfactory H2S stimuli and the trigeminal stimuli were more frequent than reductions.

Conclusion: Olfactory stimuli change the breathing only during moderate sedation, trigeminal stimuli during deep and moderate propofol-induced sedation. In opposite to both wakefulness and sleep the duration of inhalation is often extended by H2S-stimuli during moderate sedation.