Preservation of Cochlear Nerve Function with the Aid of Brain Stem Auditory Evoked Potentials

Abstract

Somatosensory, visual, and auditory evoked potentials have been used to monitor neurological function in patients under general anesthesia. This paper describes the preservation of useful hearing in three patients with cerebellopontine angle tumors. In each case, cochlear function was monitored during the procedure, and confirmation of intact conduction intraoperatively was associated with preserved hearing postoperatively.