Effects of sevoflurane and desflurane on otoacoustic emissions in humans

Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) are non-invasive, easy to apply and objective test methods which are widely used to determine the presence of hearing in audiology clinics. Under certain circumstances, the study should be applied under general anesthesia. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of new short-acting inhalation agents, desflurane and sevoflurane, on OAE in humans. These short-acting agents are widely used in general anesthesia. Thirty-one healthy patients who underwent septoplasty and turbinoplasty surgery were included in this study. Unpremedicated patients were anesthetized and monitored by a standard protocol except the inhalation agents. Desflurane and sevoflurane were added to the inhaled gas mixture at ~1MAC, 5−6 % and 1.5−2 %, respectively. Transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and distortion product otoacoustic emissions measured in both ears of each patient preoperatively in the operating room before induction, 5 min after induction, after the completion of surgical procedure while the anesthetic agents are still given and 1 h after surgery in the ward. Between-group and within-group comparisons and correlations with hemodynamic parameters were performed for statistical analysis. The measurements of 26 ears in desflurane group and 28 ears in sevoflurane group were evaluated. There were no differences in initial measurements between groups (p > 0.05). Both groups presented significant decrease in intraoperative measurements and changes in time were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The changes in OAEs were similar to changes in systemic blood pressures. Correlation between OAEs and systemic blood pressures were significant (p < 0.05). In conclusion, sevoflurane and desflurane decreased OAEs around 2–3 dB; OAEs are still measurable under inhalation agents. This provides some findings about the OAE status of patient, but the evaluations should be done with the impact of anesthetic agents in mind.