Intraoperative Burst Suppression Research: Quo Vadis?

Editorial| January 2025 Intraoperative Burst Suppression Research: Quo Vadis? Matthias Kreuzer, Ph.D.; Matthias Kreuzer, Ph.D. 1Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Jamie W. Sleigh, M.D. Jamie W. Sleigh, M.D. 2Department of Anaesthesiology, Waikato Clinical Campus, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Hamilton, New Zealand. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1966-5825 Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Author and Article Information This editorial accompanies the article on p. 107. Accepted for publication October 2, 2024. Address correspondence to Dr. Sleigh: Anesthesiology January 2025, Vol. 142, 12–14. https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000005257 Connected Content Article: Association between Intraoperative Electroencephalogram Burst Suppression and Postoperative Delirium: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Cite Icon Cite Get Permissions Search Site Citation Matthias Kreuzer, Jamie W. Sleigh; Intraoperative Burst Suppression Research: Quo Vadis?. Anesthesiology 2025; 142:12–14 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/ALN.0000000000005257 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAll PublicationsAnesthesiology Search Advanced Search Topics: burst suppression, intraoperative care What is the clinical significance of intraoperative electroencephalogram (EEG) burst suppression? This question has been swirling around for decades. Traditionally, burst suppression has often been seen as a bona fide therapeutic target for the titration of γ-aminobutyric acid–mediated sedatives to achieve brain metabolic suppression that beneficially alters energy supply–demand balance, and so may be neuroprotective during periods of transient ischemia or status epilepticus.1 This is based largely on animal studies, and clinical evidence for this strategy is sparse. In contrast, recent years have seen an increasing body of evidence demonstrating correlations between intraoperative burst suppression and various manifestations of pathologic postoperative cognitive dysfunction.2 Perhaps it is an opportune time to step back and reevaluate the available information regarding the relationship between intraoperative burst suppression and postoperative delirium. Park et al. have done a review and meta-analysis on this subject.3 This included 1 interventional and 13 observational... You do not currently have access to this content.