Somatosensory evoked potential monitoring during carotid endarterectomy in patients with a stroke

The aim of our study was to assess the characteristics and feasibility of somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring in patients who have had a stroke undergoing carotid endarterectomy. We retrospectively reviewed the medical and SSEP records of 204 patients. The patients were divided into two groups: Stroke (n = 65) and No-Stroke (n = 139). The amplitude and latency of the N20-P25 cortical complex on the ipsilateral side (surgical) were compared with the contralateral side in each group and between groups. Stroke patients showed asymmetry of their cortical waveforms; the ipsilateral N20-P25 baseline amplitude was 1.5 +/- 1.0 muv versus 1.9 +/- 1.2 muv for the contralateral (P = 0.001), for No-Stroke patients 2.0 +/- 1.1 muv versus 2.1 +/- 1.1 muv (P = 0.2). Forty-eight percent of Stroke patients had a ratio (ipsilateral/contralateral amplitude) of <1.0 +/- 0.2 compared with 26% for No-Stroke patients (P = 0.01). There were no differences in latency measurements, in the incidences of significant SSEP changes (four Stroke, six No-Stroke) and immediate post-operative e neurological deficits (two Stroke, six No-Stroke) between the two groups. Nine patients (three Stroke, six No-Stroke) had a decrease in ipsilateral N20-P25 amplitude > 50% after cross-clamping and had a shunt inserted. In conclusion, patients with a history of a stroke before surgery had a decrease in the amplitude of the ipsilateral cortical peak. There were no differences in the incidences of SSEP changes or neurological deficits.