Bilobed splitting of median nerve somatosensory evoked p14 potential under deep hypothermia

To further elucidate temperature related changes in subcortical components of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) in intraoperative monitoring.

Intraoperative monitoring of subcortical median nerve SEP under deep hypothermia is described in a patient undergoing intracranial giant aneurysm surgery. The P14 potential was recorded from Fz-Pgz (front to nasopharynx).

At a body core temperature of less than 17 degrees C, P14 showed a bilobed splitting that was reversible with rewarming. A comparison with latencies of other subcortical potentials of presynaptic and postsynaptic origin, recorded at the neck, speaks in favor of a presynaptic generation of the first P14 wave and a postsynaptic origin of the latter P14 wave.

Deep hypothermia may separate presynaptic and postsynaptic electric activity of evoked potentials that overlap at normal body temperature. Such possible phenomena must be kept in mind to correctly interprete monitoring data at very low body temperatures and may help in better understanding the generation of different SEP components.