Breath Analysis for Safer Pediatric Anesthesia
Researchers led by Prof. Pablo Sinues have made significant strides in improving anesthesia monitoring for children through breath analysis. This innovative approach offers a promising solution to the challenge of optimizing propofol dosing — a critical but complex task due to pediatric patients' unique physiological responses.
Propofol, widely used for over 30 years, requires precise dosage adjustments during surgery. Currently, anesthesiologists rely on indirect indicators such as vital signs and brain activity, guided by a patient's height, weight, age, and gender. However, these methods lack real-time accuracy.
Prof. Sinues and his team conducted a pilot study to test the efficiency of breath analysis efficacy in monitoring propofol levels during surgery. Collaborating with Prof. Thomas Erb from the Department of Pediatric Anesthesia at the University Children's Hospital Basel (UKBB), they collected exhaled breath samples from ten pediatric patients undergoing various surgeries. These samples were gathered every 30 minutes using specially designed plastic bags, later analyzed via mass spectrometry to measure propofol and its degradation products.
The results demonstrated a strong correlation between breath analysis and blood concentrations of propofol, suggesting that this method can accurately reflect drug levels in real time. Moreover, the technique identified markers of oxidative stress, offering insights into how children's bodies respond to anesthesia and surgical interventions—potentially helping detect early signs of complications.
Through their pioneering work, Sinues and his colleagues are paving the way for safer and more effective anesthesia practices in pediatric care.
More:
- Sinues Lab
- Zeng J et al. Breath Analysis of Propofol and Associated Metabolic Signatures: A Pilot Study Using Secondary Electrospray Ionization High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. Anesthesiology. 2025