Effect of propofol on the stereotactic electroencephalography of the left cerebral neocortex and limbic system in adult patients with epilepsy

Objective To investigate the effect of different effect compartment concentrations of propofol on the ste-reotactic electroencephalography (SEEG) of the left cerebral neocortex and limbic system in adult patients with epilepsy. Methods Fourteen patients undergoing elective electrode removal following robot-guided stereotactic implantation of left intracerebral electrodes in the Department of Epilepsy Surgery at our hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected. Patients were divided into neocortex group and limbic system group according to the location of electrodes in the brain. The power range and percentage of δ, θ, α, β, and γ waves on SEEG at the intraoperative effect compartment concentrations of propofol of 0, 2, 3, 4, and 5 mg/L (concentrations of D1-D5) as well as the modulation index (MI) of phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) in the wave bands of δ-γ, θ-γ, α-γ, and β-γ were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results The power ranges of γ wave on SEEG of the left limbic system and cerebral neocortex were significantly lower at the concentrations of D2-D5 than at the concentration of D1 (F=15.13,20.33,t=4.33-8.72,P<0.05). The power percentage of α wave in the left limbic system was significantly higher at the concentration of D3 than at the concentrations of D1 and D2 (F=23.38,t=5.52,9.38,P<0.05). The MI of PAC in θ-γ and α-γ in the left limbic system decreased significantly at the concentrations of D3-D5 compared with at the concentration of D1 (F=13.64,18.77,t=7.62-17.68,P<0.05). Conclusion Propofol decreases the power range of γ wave on SEEG of the left cerebral neocortex and limbic system and lowers PAC of θ-γ and α-γ on SEEG of the left limbic system in adult patients with epilepsy.