PURPOSES: We report our experience with sodium methohexital (Brevital) as an anesthetic used in the Wada test for language and memory in 86 epilepsy surgery patients (173 procedures). METHODS: The methods are compared with those of the more commonly used anesthetic sodium amobarbital (Amytal). RESULTS: Despite differences between the methohexital and amobarbital test protocols, the behavioral and neurologic effects of the two anesthetics are similar. Because of the brief duration of methohexital, two successive injections are made on each side rather than one, to lengthen the time available for testing both language and memory. Behavioral and EEG indices return to baseline more quickly and more completely with methohexital than with amobarbital, allowing several repetitions of the procedure without incremental drowsiness, and the total time taken for the procedure is less with methohexital than with amobarbital. CONCLUSIONS: The results of language and memory testing in the Wada test are equivalent for amobarbital and methohexital, except that methohexital has a briefer duration of action and is associated with less sedation.
PURPOSES: We report our experience with sodium methohexital (Brevital) as an anesthetic used in the Wada test for language and memory in 86 epilepsy surgery patients (173 procedures). METHODS: The methods are compared with those of the more commonly used anesthetic sodium amobarbital (Amytal). RESULTS: Despite differences between the methohexital and amobarbital test protocols, the behavioral and neurologic effects of the two anesthetics are similar. Because of the brief duration of methohexital, two successive injections are made on each side rather than one, to lengthen the time available for testing both language and memory. Behavioral and EEG indices return to baseline more quickly and more completely with methohexital than with amobarbital, allowing several repetitions of the procedure without incremental drowsiness, and the total time taken for the procedure is less with methohexital than with amobarbital. CONCLUSIONS: The results of language and memory testing in the Wada test are equivalent for amobarbital and methohexital, except that methohexital has a briefer duration of action and is associated with less sedation.
Authors: José A Jordán González; Juan Carlos Llibre Guerra; José A Prince López; Frank Vázquez Luna; Raúl Marino Rodríguez Ramos; José Carlos Ugarte Suárez Journal: Interv Neuroradiol Date: 2013-09-26 Impact factor: 1.610
Authors: Haren Heller; Raheleh Hatami; Paul Mullin; Robert R Sciacca; Alexander G Khandji; Marla Hamberger; Ronald Emerson; Eric J Heyer Journal: Anesth Analg Date: 2005-07 Impact factor: 5.108
Authors: C E Feliciano; R de León-Berra; M S Hernández-Gaitán; H M Torres; O Creagh; R Rodríguez-Mercado Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2009-11-05 Impact factor: 3.825