Table 2. Impact of Varying the Starting Concentration on the Resulting Estimates of Population MAC and the Number of Patients Needed to Be Enrolled in a Study
Results are average values of 500 replicates for each starting concentration.
Population minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) = 1.0%; interindividual variability = 10% of population MAC; incremental changes for inhaled anesthetic = 10% of starting concentration; machine error level = 0.1%; ventilation/perfusion mismatch = 0.1%; MAC2, MAC4, MAC6, MAC8, MAC10 = average MAC for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 crossovers; Max2, Max4, Max6, Max8, Max10 = highest estimated MAC for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 crossovers; Min2, Min4, Min6, Min8, Min10 = lowest estimated MAC for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 crossovers; SD2, SD4, SD6, SD8, SD10 = average of standard deviations of 500 replicates for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 crossovers; N2, N4, N6, N8, N10 = number of patients needed for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 crossovers.