Abstract: Objective To determine the cerebral protective effect of different concentrations of desflurane anesthesia during craniotomy.Methods Twenty two patients, scheduled for selective craniotomy for resections of supratentorial mass lesions, were anesthetized by inhalation of desflurane. When the concentrations of desflurane were maintained at 0.7,1.0 and 1.3 mean alveolar concentration (MAC) for 30 min during removing the tumor, venous blood samples which were drawn through internal jugular bulb were analyzed. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and jugular bulb pressure (JBP) were recorded during the craniotomy.Results Jugular bulb oxygen saturation (SjO₂) was significantly declined at 1.0 and 1.3 MAC compared with that at 0.7 MAC (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively). There was no significant changes in SjO₂ between 1.0 and 1.3 MAC (P>0.05). MAP declined dose dependently, and decreased more significantly at 1.3 MAC (P<0.01).HR and JBP increased slightly with the raising concentration of desflurane but there were no significant changes at any MAC of desflurane (P>0.05).Conclusion Desflurane anesthesia at 1.0 MAC shows cerebral protection effect during craniotomy with stable hemodynamics and improved cerebral oxygen supply and demand.

Key words: desflurane, craniotomy, jugular bulb oxygen saturation