A neurosurgical team performs electrocorticography before resecting a temporal lobe epileptogenic focus. Which intravenous anaesthetic is deliberately chosen because it ACTIVATES epileptiform discharges and helps localise the focus?
- A Thiopentone
- B Midazolam
- C Etomidate ✓
- D Dexmedetomidine
Correct answer: C. Etomidate
Explanation
Etomidate uniquely enhances epileptiform activity on the EEG and can provoke spikes from an existing focus, so it is used intraoperatively to help identify and delineate seizure foci during cortical mapping. Thiopentone and midazolam are anticonvulsant and suppress epileptiform activity, while dexmedetomidine produces sedation resembling natural sleep with modest EEG changes and no proconvulsant utility.
Reference: Miller's Anesthesia, 9th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.