Téllez MJ, Mirallave-Pescador A, Seidel K, Urriza J, Shoakazemi A, Raabe A, Ghatan S, Deletis V, Ulkatan S. Neurophysiological monitoring of the laryngeal adductor reflex during cerebellar-pontine angle and brainstem surgery.
Clin Neurophysiol 2020;
132:622-631. [PMID:
33272821 DOI:
10.1016/j.clinph.2020.10.021]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To correlate intraoperative changes of the laryngeal adductor reflex (LAR), alone or in combination with corticobulbar motor evoked potential of vocal muscles (vocal-CoMEPs), with postoperative laryngeal function after posterior fossa and brainstem surgery.
METHODS
We monitored 53 patients during cerebellar-pontine angle and brainstem surgeries. Vocal-CoMEPs and LAR were recorded from an endotracheal tube with imbedded electrodes or hook-wires electrodes. A LAR significant change (LAR-SC) defined as ≥ 50% amplitude decrement or loss, was classified as either transient or permanent injury to the vagus or medullary pathways by the end of the surgery.
RESULTS
All patients with permanent LAR loss (n = 5) or LAR-SC (n = 3), developed postoperative laryngeal dysfunction such as aspiration/pneumonia and permanent swallowing deficits (5.6%). Vocal-CoMEP findings refined postoperative vocal motor dysfunction. All seven patients with transient LAR-SC or loss, reverted by changing the surgical approach, did not present permanent deficits.
CONCLUSIONS
Permanent LAR-SCs or loss correlated with postoperative laryngeal dysfunction and predicted motor and sensory dysfunction of the vagus nerve and reflexive medullary pathways. In contrast, a LAR-SC or loss, averted by a timely surgical adjustment, prevented irreversible damage.
SIGNIFICANCE
Monitoring of the LAR, with vocal-CoMEPs, may enhance safety to resect complex posterior fossa and brainstem lesions.
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