title: Assessing brain stem function.
abstract: Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring provides objective measures of nervous system function that are of value when operating in proximity to the brain stem. Real-time measurements of function can be correlated to operative manipulations in order to reduce the risk of damage in critically important regions. Techniques for evaluating brain stem function clinically and electrophysiologically are presented along with their applications during surgery of the brain stem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sclabassi
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Kalia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sekhar
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Jannetta
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000379:methods*