An approach to programmed anaesthesia*

Abstract

This approach to programmed anaesthesia uses a pharmakokinetic model to predict the rate at which halothane must be administered to achieve and maintain a preselected tension within the brain. 'In-course' corrections are also applied to this predictive regime on the basis of variations in the respired minute volume which is taken as an indicator of the depth of anaesthesia. Experimental data on the accuracy of the model and the performance of the corrective control unit are presented.