Posterior tibial nerve and median nerve somatosensory evoked potential monitoring during carotid endarterectomy.
OBJECTIVE
Somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring using the median nerve (MN) modality during carotid endarterectomy is well established. This study assessed the usefulness of monitoring the posterior tibial nerve (PTN) SSEP as an adjunct to MNSSEP for detection of cerebral ischemia and as an indicator for the insertion of a shunt in patients undergoing a carotid endarterectomy.


METHODS
All patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy during three years who had routine bilateral MNSSEP were also monitored with bilateral PTNSSEP. Patients received a shunt if there was a significant change (> 50% decrease in amplitude of cortical peak (N20) in the MNSSEP after cross clamping. The incidence, timing, and duration of all PTNSSEP changes were compared to MNSSEP changes.


RESULTS
One hundred fifty-three patients were studied. Significant changes in MNSSEP after cross clamp lead to insertion of a shunt in six patients. Changes in PTNSSEP occurred at almost the same time in three patients, four minutes before MNSSEP in one, three minutes later in one and no change in one patient. Good quality baseline tracings were obtained in 99% MNSSEP as compared to 88% PTNSSEP (P < 0.05). New postoperative neurological deficits occurred in four patients (2.6%), only one had significant evoked potential changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Monitoring of PTNSSEP is feasible and may be considered for an adjunct to MNSSEP or as an alternative modality if there are difficulties with MNSSEP. However, there may be a greater incidence of poor quality baseline tracings for PTNSSEP.
Manninen
Pirjo
P
Department of Anesthesia, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8, Canada. Pirjo.Manninen@uhn.on.ca
Sarjeant
Roger
R
Joshi
Mital
M
D000368:Aged; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000601:surgery; D003250:Constriction; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods*; D020521:Stroke / Q000601:surgery; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors