Intraoperative Transcranial Motor-Evoked Potential Monitoring of the Facial Nerve during Cerebellopontine Angle Tumor Resection

Electrophysiological mapping and assessment of facial nerve functioning during acoustic neuroma operations

Background

Electrophysiological monitoring is used routinely to protect the facial nerve during acoustic neuroma surgery. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the facial nerve’s electrophysiological monitoring parameters and its function after surgery.

Methods

Fifty-two patients with acoustic neuroma who underwent surgery were included. After localizing the facial nerve, its monitoring results during surgeries performed at our center were analyzed. Postoperative nerve functioning was correlated with the stimulation threshold of the facial nerve’s proximal segment, proximal-to-distal amplitude ratio of the facial nerve, and proximal stimulation amplitude. Receiver-operating characteristic curves of the three parameters were calculated.

Results

Electrical stimulation accurately described the facial nerve’s anatomic distribution after the depth of anesthesia was assessed via accessory nerve stimulation. The data recorded after resection showed that a higher proximal-to-distal amplitude ratio was associated with better facial nerve functioning (P=0.037). A lower stimulation threshold of the proximal segment correlated with better facial nerve functioning (P=0.038).

Conclusions

The most sensitive index to predict postoperative nerve functioning is the facial nerve’s proximal-to-distal amplitude ratio. Accessory nerve stimulation can determine the appropriate depth of anesthesia, Electromyography (EMG) monitoring of the facial nerve during acoustic neuroma surgery can protect it effectively.

TcMEP threshold change is superior to A-train detection when predicting facial nerve outcome in CPA tumour surgery

Object

Surgery of tumours in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) can lead to loss of facial nerve function. Different methods of intra-operative nerve monitoring (IOM) (including free-running EMG, direct nerve stimulation and transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEP)) have been used to predict facial nerve outcome during surgery. Recent research has shown TcMEP threshold increase and the occurrence of A-trains on the EMG to have great potential in doing so. This study compares these two methods and correlates them to House-Brackmann (HB) scores post-op in patients with tumours in the cerebellopontine angle.

Method

Forty-three patients (one was operated twice) with large CPA tumours treated surgically in the Radboud University Medical Center between 2015 and 2019 were included in this study. During surgery, TcMEP threshold increases and A-train activity were measured. Because our treatment paradigm aims at facial nerve preservation (accepting residual tumour), TcMEP threshold increase of over 20 mA or occurrence of A-trains were considered as warning signs and used as a guide for terminating surgery. HB scores were measured post-op, at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. Spearman’s correlation was calculated between the IOM-values and the HB scores for a homogeneous subgroup of 30 patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS) without neurofibromatosis type II (NF-II) and all patients collectively.

Results

TcMEP threshold was successfully measured in 39 (90.7%) procedures. In the homogeneous VS non-NFII group, we found a statistically significant moderate-to-strong correlation between TcMEP threshold increase and House Brackmann score immediately post-op, at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year after surgery (Spearman’s rho of 0.79 (p < 0.001), 0.74 (p < 0.001), 0.64 (p < 0.001) and 0.58 (p = 0.002), respectively). For A-trains, no correlation was found. Similar results were found when including all patients with CPA tumours. A threshold increase of < 20 mA was a predictor of good facial nerve outcome.

Conclusion

These results show that TcMEP threshold increases are strongly correlated to post-operative HB scores, while A-trains are not. This suggests TcMEP threshold increases can be a valuable predictor for facial nerve outcome in patients with large tumours when facial nerve preservation is prioritized over total resection. In this study, we found no use for A-trains to prevent facial nerve deficits.

Feasibility of adjunct facial motor evoked potential monitoring to reduce the number of false-positive results during cervical spine surgery

OBJECTIVE

False-positive intraoperative muscle motor evoked potential (mMEP) monitoring results due to systemic effects of anesthetics and physiological changes continue to be a challenging issue. Although control MEPs recorded from the unaffected side are useful for identifying a true-positive signal, there are no muscles on the upper or lower extremities to induce control MEPs in cervical spine surgery. Therefore, this study was conducted to clarify if additional MEPs derived from facial muscles can feasibly serve as controls to reduce false-positive mMEP monitoring results in cervical spine surgery.

METHODS

Patients who underwent cervical spine surgery at the authors' institution who did not experience postoperative neurological deterioration were retrospectively studied. mMEPs were induced with transcranial supramaximal stimulation. Facial MEPs (fMEPs) were subsequently induced with suprathreshold stimulation. The mMEP and subsequently recorded fMEP waveforms were paired during each moment during surgery. The initial pair was regarded as the baseline. A significant decline in mMEP and fMEP amplitude was defined as > 80% and > 50% decline compared with baseline, respectively. All mMEP alarms were considered false positives. Based on 2 different alarm criteria, either mMEP alone or both mMEP and fMEP, rates of false-positive mMEP monitoring results were calculated.

RESULTS

Twenty-three patients were included in this study, corresponding to 102 pairs of mMEPs and fMEPs. This included 23 initial and 79 subsequent pairs. Based on the alarm criterion of mMEP alone, 17 false-positive results (21.5%) were observed. Based on the alarm criterion of both mMEP and fMEP, 5 false-positive results (6.3%) were observed, which was significantly different compared to mMEP alone (difference 15.2%; 95% CI 7.2%-23.1%; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

fMEPs might be used as controls to reduce false-positive mMEP monitoring results in cervical spine surgery.

Impact of Motor-Evoked Potential Monitoring on Facial Nerve Outcomes after Vestibular Schwannoma Resection

Objectives:

Assess the utility of intraoperative transcranial facial motor-evoked potential (FMEP) monitoring in predicting and improving facial function after vestibular schwannoma (VS) resection.

Study Design:

Retrospective chart review.

Methods:

Data were obtained from 82 consecutive VS resections meeting inclusion criteria. Sixty-two cases were performed without FMEP and 20 with FMEP. Degradation of FMEP response was defined as a final-to-baseline amplitude ratio of 0.5 or less. House-Brackmann (HB) grade was assessed preoperatively, postoperatively, at follow-up assessments, and it was compared between pre- and post-FMEP cohorts. Positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity, and specificity of FMEP degradation in predicting facial weakness were calculated.

Results:

In the pre-FMEP group, at length of follow-up (LOF) ⩾9 months, 83.9% (52/62) of patients exhibited HB 1-2 outcome. In the post-FMEP cohort, 75.0% (15/20) exhibited HB 1-2 function at LOF ⩾9 months. There was no difference in rates of HB 1-2 outcomes between groups in the immediate postoperative period ( P = .35) or at long-term follow-up ( P = 1.0). With respect to predicting immediate postoperative facial function, FMEP demonstrated high specificity (88.9%) and moderate sensitivity (54.5%). The PPV and NPV for immediate postoperative facial function were 85.7% and 61.5%, respectively. With respect to long-term (⩾9 months LOF) facial function, intraoperative FMEP was moderately sensitive (71.4%) and highly specific (84.6%); PPV was moderate (71.4%), and NPV was high (84.6%).

Conclusions:

Intraoperative FMEP is highly specific and moderately sensitive in predicting postoperative facial function for patients undergoing VS resection, but its use may not be associated with improved facial nerve outcomes.

Level of Evidence:

4

Prognostic value of transcranial facial nerve motor-evoked potentials in predicting facial nerve function following cerebellopontine angle tumorectomy

Facial nerve paralysis is a common complication following cerebellopontine angle (CPA) surgery. This study investigated the prognostic value of facial nerve motor-evoked potentials (FNMEPs) elicited by transcranial electrical stimulation for facial nerve outcome after CPA tumorectomy.A total of 95 patients were enrolled in this study between January 2014 and January 2016. All these patients underwent CPA tumorectomy (unilateral, n = 95; bilateral, n = 1). Intraoperative FNMEP elicited by transcranial electrical stimulation was recorded. The short- and long-term postoperative facial nerve functions were evaluated according to the House-Brackmann (HB) scale. The correlation between perioperative changes in the FNMEP stimulus threshold (delta FNMEP = postoperative stimulus threshold level-preoperative stimulus threshold level) and postoperative facial nerve functions were analyzed.On the first day postoperatively, the facial nerve function was HB grade I in 67, grade II in 17, grade III in 7, and grade IV in 5 facial nerves. One year postoperatively, the facial nerve function was grade I in 80, grade II in 11, grade III in 3, and grade IV in 2 facial nerves. The delta FNMEP was significantly correlated with the short- and long-term facial nerve function; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves yielded a cut-off delta FNMEP value of 30 V (sensitivity, 91.3%; specificity, 98.6%) and 75 V (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 98.8%) for predicting short- and long-term facial nerve function damage, respectively.FNMEP elicited by transcranial electrical stimulation is an effective and safe approach for predicting facial nerve function in CPA tumorectomy. A high delta FNMEP is a potential indicator for the prediction of postoperative facial nerve damage.

Evaluation of the prognostic value of multimodal intraoperative monitoring in posterior fossa surgery patients with cerebellopontine angle tumors

The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of four intraoperative monitoring approaches in order to compare their prognostic value in surgical complications of the facial nerve. This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 25 patients with Cerebellopontine Angle (CPA) tumors, who were hospitalized in the Valiasr Hospital, affiliated to the Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran. The degree of the facial nerve paralysis was assessed based on the House-Brackmann (HB) facial nerve grading system. The Orbicularis oris and Oculi muscles were evaluated by electromyography (EMG) before and after the surgery. Monitoring the facial nerve was performed by the EMG, Facial Nerve Antidromic Potentials (FNAPs), Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES), and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs) methods. The mean HB score was 0.36.6±5.83, indicating that the function of the facial muscle was abnormal in all the patients pre-surgery. The comparison of the four monitoring approaches six months after surgery showed that the predictive value of facial nerve TES was higher than the other approaches (P<0.005). Furthemroe, 4% of the patients showed normal function in the facial muscle after the surgery. In addition, 8%, 56%, and 32% of the patients had mild abnormalities, moderate to severe paralysis in the facial muscles, and severe facial nerve dysfunction, respectively. In summary, 36% of the patients showed a mild abnormalities in the follow-up period, and full recovery was observed in 28% of the cases. In conclusion, the transcranial motor evoked potential (TCMEP) is a useful method for monitoring the facial nerve during the surgery along with the continuous EMG recordings.

Role of Facial Nerve Motor-Evoked Potential Ratio in Predicting Facial Nerve Function in Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery Both Immediate and at 1 Year

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether transcranial electrical stimulation-induced facial motor-evoked potential (FMEP) monitoring of the facial nerve (FN) during vestibular schwannoma (VS) tumor resection can predict both immediate and 1 year postoperative FN functional outcome.

DESIGN

Prospective consecutive non-comparative observational case series.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Facial function, immediate post operation and at 1 year using House-Brackmann (HB) grading scale.

METHODS

The study included 367 consecutive patients (men 178; women 189; age 13-81 years) monitored during primary sporadic VS microsurgery between November 2002 and April 2015. Neurofibromatosis type II, revision surgery, previous radiotherapy treatment, preoperative facial nerve weakness, and non-VS cases were excluded retrospectively during analysis of data. Data of facial function were missing from eight patients at 1 year and were excluded. The correlation between the final-to-baseline FMEP ratio and immediate and 1 year facial nerve function was examined.

RESULTS

Using logistic regression model, the cut-off points of FMEP ratio were 0.62 (PPV 0.96) and 0.59 (PPV 0.98) which predicted satisfactory FN function (HB grades 1 or 2) immediately postoperative and at 1 year after surgery, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Transcranial electrical stimulation FMEP is a valuable tool for monitoring facial nerve function during resection of vestibular schwannoma. Maintaining a FMEP event-to-baseline ratio of 60% or greater is predictive of satisfactory long-term FN function.