ORL; journal for oto-rhino-laryngology and its related specialties
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ORL J. Otorhinolaryngol. Relat. Spec. · Jan 1994
Intraoperative facial nerve monitoring in the surgery of cerebellopontine angle tumors: improved preservation of nerve function.
The surgery of cerebellopontine angle tumors has shown remarkable progress over the last 20 years due to improved microsurgical techniques. However, the dissection of the facial nerve may lead to postoperative paresis as the result of the surgical trauma and the disruption of blood supply over a large distance. The functional status of the nerve can be intraoperatively monitored by means of intramuscular electromyography of facial muscles and direct electrical stimulation. ⋯ The mechanically or thermally elicited activity by drilling, direct manipulation or coagulation consisted of bursts and trains which are signs of minor nerve impairment. Their occurrence can lead to a modified surgical technique with a more precise preparation around and at the facial nerve. The immediate postoperative nerve function was normal or showed only a minor impairment (classes I and II according to House and Brackmann) in 87% of the monitored as compared with 74% of the unmonitored patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)