Practical Aspects of Monitoring Peripheral Nerves

Abstract

Monitoring of neural conduction is important for detecting surgically induced injuries to nerves, and it is a prerequisite for reducing the risks of postoperative deficits. Several different techniques can be used for such monitoring. One method utilizes the stimulation of a nerve and recording compound action potentials (CAP) from another location on the nerve. Other methods use the recording of SSEP, the F-response1 or the H-response.2 These methods can be used for detecting partial or complete failure of neural conduction and for the measurements of changes in neural conduction velocity. Such measures are important for detecting injuries caused by surgical manipulations. Similar electrophysiological methods can be used for finding the anatomical location of injuries to nerves. Intraoperative measurement of the conduction of peripheral nerves plays an important role in guiding the surgeon in repair of injured nerves (see Chap. 15).