Intraoperative Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potential (BAEP) Monitoring in Acoustic Neuroma Surgery

Summary

In a cohort of 260 patients with acoustic neuroma operated upon via the suboccipital approach, 61 were not deaf prior to surgery. Hearing preservation had been attempted in the 61 patients, regardless of the level of hearing and the size of the neuroma. Hearing was preserved in 19 of the 61 patients with acoustic neuromas, 8 of which had neuromas larger than 2 cm. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were monitored throughout the operation in all 61 patients. This monitoring proved helpful in preserving hearing in these patients because the neurophysiologist was able to inform the surgeon immediately when a specific surgical manipulation was affecting and possibly damaging cochlear function.