Characterizing the Electroencephalogram Signature of Fentanyl During Induction of General Anesthesia

While historically anesthesiologists rely on pharmacokinetics to track the loss of consciousness, new research in anesthesiology has identified the salient features of the electroencephalogram (EEG) that correlate to states of sedation and unconsciousness induced by different anesthetic drugs. While the EEG features of many sedative-hypnotic anesthetics have been well- characterized, the opioid analgesic drugs have not been analyzed in detail in this way. A characterization of the EEG signatures of opioid analgesic drugs could be useful in monitoring and titrating the effects of these drugs.