ISSN:
0942-0940
Keywords:
Somatosensory evoked potentials
;
EEG monitoring
;
stump pressure
;
carotid clamping
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary The authors have reported on the prognostic value of continuous monitoring of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) in a survey of 25 patients who underwent carotid surgery. SEP recordings were correlated with the EEG, stump pressure (SP) values and clinical outcome. A non-cephalic reference was used for SEP recordings to allow the analysis of both subcortical and cortical components. During surgery the conduction time between SEP peaks relating to the subcortical components remained stable or showed minimum variations in all patients. During carotid clamping, SEP variations were observed in 9 out of 25 cases (36%). The application of an intraluminal shunt was accompanied by the return to normal values in 7 out of 9 patients. In the remaining two cases SEP abnormalities continued post-operatively and were accompanied by new neurological deficits. EEG changes during carotid clamping were associated with SEP modifications in 6 out of 7 cases, although they were not always correlated. Results confirm that SEP recordings provide useful data concerning the function of the CNS in anaesthetized patients and that, being sensitive to CBF changes, SEP monitoring acts as an indicator of cerebral ischaemia.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01406663
