Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of the autonomic nervous system during induction and intubation of children with cerebral palsy.MethodsThirty children with cerebral palsy (group A) and thirty children without cerebral palsy disease (group B) scheduled for abdominal operation were selected. Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed before operation, after anesthesia induction and after trachea intubation using heart rate power spectrum analysis (HRPSA).ResultsAfter anesthesia induction, low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), LF/HF and total pull (TP) decreased significantly in group A, and LF, LF/HF and TP decreased significantly in group B. After trachea intubation, LF, HF, LF/HF and TP increased significantly in both groups. During induction and intubation, HF and TP in group A was lower than that in group B significantly (P<0.05～0.01), but LF did not changed markedly in both groups.ConclusionParasympathetic nervous activity and the total power of autonomic nervous system are decreased significantly during induction and intubation in children with cerebral palsy compared with those without cerebral palsy, indicating that the effect of parasympathetic nervous activity is impaired.

Key words: cerebral palsy, general anesthesia, autonomic nervous system, heart rate variability