[Intraoperative brainstem auditory evoked potential in the microvascular decompression of the 5th and 7th cranial...

Microvascular decompression techniques are rational surgical procedures for treating trigeminal neuralgia and facial hemispasm, with results ranging from good to excellent in 90% of cases. Among the most frequent complications recorded in the literature concerning these decompressions, impairment of the facial nerve and auditory nerve account for 5% to 10% due to mechanical traction and/or vascular injury. The peroperative use of early brain-stem evoked potentials (BAEP) was performed on 17 patients in a series of 325 decompressions of the trigeminal nerve, and on 17 patients in a series of 25 decompressions for facial hemispasm. Such peroperative monitoring is considered to be most important in the surgical technique. The author reports on his experience and results.