How do anesthetic agents interact with the brain's neural circuits? How do they influence our consciousness? Why does a person lose consciousness or why does the brain enter a dormant state after anesthesia is administered? These questions will soon be answered through a new study.
This research is being conducted by two senior doctors from the Department of Anesthesiology at Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC), Dr. Saifullah Tipu and Dr. Sarika Katiyar. They are being assisted by Dr. Anirban Bandyopadhyay, a Senior Scientist at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan, Dr. Tanushree Dutta, an Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Ranchi, and Dr. Rupesh Ranjan, a Neuropsychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at BMHRC. The study is expected to uncover significant information regarding a patient's mental state during medical procedures, which can be utilized to enhance patient care.
All necessary approvals have been obtained for this research, which is expected to be completed within the next year.Dr. Saifullah Tipu, Principal Investigator and Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at BMHRC, mentioned that they have received a machine called a Spectrum Analyzer with the support of Dr. Bandyopadhyay. This machine detects signals in the brain.
Under this study, a probe connected to this machine will be attached to the foreheads of selected patients before anesthesia is administered, after anesthesia is administered, and post-surgery. The probe will record the waves emanating from the forehead during these three different states. Dr Anirban Bandyopadhyay will used the collected data to develop a language based system that can interpret the pateint’s metal state, even in non-interactive situations. Another principal investigator and Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Dr. Sarika Katiyar, stated that EEG machines, which are used to diagnose conditions such as epilepsy, also detect neural signals in lower frequency.
The Spectrum Analyzer has a frequency of up to 6-26 MHz, which allows it to detect neural signals that EEG machines cannot. Soon, they will receive another advanced machine that will further benefit this research. Benefits of this Research to the General Public
Better Management: By understanding how anaesthetic agents affects brain activity through high frequency, clinicians can optimize dosages to minimize and prevent complications like intraoperative awareness or postoperative cognitive dysfunction. This leads to safer surgical procedures and better patient outcomes.
Better Pain Management: Insights gained from studying the high frequency can contribute to more effective pain management strategies, not only during surgery but also in chronic pain conditions. Understanding brain responses to anaesthesia can aid in developing non-opioid pain relief methods, addressing the opioid crisis.
Personalized Medicine: Results of the study, can help tailor anesthesia to individual patients` needs based on their specific brain activity patterns, promoting personalized medical care. This can be particularly beneficial for vulnerable populations such as the elderly or those with neurological disorders.
Promotion of Further Research: Future research may lead to the development of advanced anesthetic drugs that are safer and have fewer side effects. Research in this area fosters collaboration between anaesthesiologists, Neurologists, phycologists and biomedical engineering.
Dr. Manisha Shrivastava, In-charge Director, BMHRC said at BMHRC, alongside patient care, there is a strong focus on research. This study will bring forth new insights into the brain and anesthesia, proving to be highly beneficial for medical science. Patients will also benefit from this in the future.
