F. Schellhammer et al., Somatosensory evoked potentials: a simple neurophysiological monitoring technique in supra-aortal balloon test occlusions, EUR RADIOL, 8(9), 1998, pp. 1586-1589
The aim of this study was to evaluate somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP)
as a simple neurophysiological monitoring method in supra-aortal balloon t
est occlusions (BTO). The 13 patients examined had carcinoma of the larynx
(n= 6), nasopharyngeal malignancy (n=3), sphenoid meningioma (n = 2), mycot
ic aneurysm (n = 1), and a tumor of :the carotid body (n = 1). Transfemoral
balloon occlusion of the internal carotid artery was maintained For 30 min
and monitored both clinically and by SEP. None of the 13 patients showed n
eurological deficits changes in the SEP. No thromboembolic complications oc
curred during BTO. In 11 cases the cervical vessels could be spared or reco
nstructed during surgery. No neurological symptoms occurred, during the cli
nical follow-up. One patient died the; day after BTO due to cardiac arrest.
Neurophysiological monitoring of preoperative BTO using SEP is a technical
ly simple method. A similar method has been shown to have a high sensitivit
y and reliability in carotid surgery.