1. During a craniotomy, which monitoring technique is most
useful for detecting potential damage to the optic nerve?
A. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP)
B. Visual evoked potentials (VEP)
C. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)
D. Electroencephalography (EEG)
Answer: B) Visual evoked potentials (VEP)
Rationale: VEPs assess the integrity of the visual pathways,
including the optic nerve, making them valuable during
procedures involving the optic nerve.
2. Which of the following is the most common stimulus for
evoking somatosensory evoked potentials?
A. Electrical stimulation of the skin
B. Visual stimulus
C. Auditory stimulus
D. Magnetic stimulation of the cortex
Answer: A) Electrical stimulation of the skin
Rationale: SSEPs are typically evoked by electrical stimulation
applied to peripheral nerves, such as the median or tibial nerve.
,3. For intraoperative monitoring of the facial nerve, which
technique is used?
A. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)
B. Cranial nerve evoked potentials (CNEP)
C. Electromyography (EMG)
D. Transcranial Doppler
Answer: C) Electromyography (EMG)
Rationale: EMG is used to monitor the function of the facial nerve
by recording muscle responses to electrical stimulation.
4. What is the primary risk when using motor evoked potentials
(MEPs) for intraoperative monitoring in the setting of a
decompressive laminectomy?
A. Neurological deficits from ischemia
B. Seizure induction from electrical stimulation
C. Increased muscle relaxation from anesthesia
D. Sudden drop in blood pressure
Answer: B) Seizure induction from electrical stimulation
Rationale: MEPs involve transcranial electrical stimulation, which
may cause seizures in patients predisposed to seizure activity,
such as those with epilepsy or brain abnormalities.
, 5. Which type of monitoring is especially valuable during aortic
aneurysm repair to assess the spinal cord?
A. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP)
B. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs)
C. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)
D. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound
Answer: C) Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)
Rationale: SSEPs are crucial for monitoring spinal cord integrity
during aortic aneurysm repair, as the procedure can potentially
affect spinal cord blood supply.
6. Which of the following is the most common cause of false-
positive or false-negative results during motor evoked potential
(MEP) monitoring?
A. Patient movement
B. Inadequate electrode placement
C. Incorrect anesthetic dosage
D. Equipment malfunction
Answer: B) Inadequate electrode placement
Rationale: Incorrect electrode placement can lead to inaccurate
MEP recordings, either giving false positives or failing to detect
true motor pathway injury.
useful for detecting potential damage to the optic nerve?
A. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP)
B. Visual evoked potentials (VEP)
C. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)
D. Electroencephalography (EEG)
Answer: B) Visual evoked potentials (VEP)
Rationale: VEPs assess the integrity of the visual pathways,
including the optic nerve, making them valuable during
procedures involving the optic nerve.
2. Which of the following is the most common stimulus for
evoking somatosensory evoked potentials?
A. Electrical stimulation of the skin
B. Visual stimulus
C. Auditory stimulus
D. Magnetic stimulation of the cortex
Answer: A) Electrical stimulation of the skin
Rationale: SSEPs are typically evoked by electrical stimulation
applied to peripheral nerves, such as the median or tibial nerve.
,3. For intraoperative monitoring of the facial nerve, which
technique is used?
A. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)
B. Cranial nerve evoked potentials (CNEP)
C. Electromyography (EMG)
D. Transcranial Doppler
Answer: C) Electromyography (EMG)
Rationale: EMG is used to monitor the function of the facial nerve
by recording muscle responses to electrical stimulation.
4. What is the primary risk when using motor evoked potentials
(MEPs) for intraoperative monitoring in the setting of a
decompressive laminectomy?
A. Neurological deficits from ischemia
B. Seizure induction from electrical stimulation
C. Increased muscle relaxation from anesthesia
D. Sudden drop in blood pressure
Answer: B) Seizure induction from electrical stimulation
Rationale: MEPs involve transcranial electrical stimulation, which
may cause seizures in patients predisposed to seizure activity,
such as those with epilepsy or brain abnormalities.
, 5. Which type of monitoring is especially valuable during aortic
aneurysm repair to assess the spinal cord?
A. Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP)
B. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs)
C. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)
D. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound
Answer: C) Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)
Rationale: SSEPs are crucial for monitoring spinal cord integrity
during aortic aneurysm repair, as the procedure can potentially
affect spinal cord blood supply.
6. Which of the following is the most common cause of false-
positive or false-negative results during motor evoked potential
(MEP) monitoring?
A. Patient movement
B. Inadequate electrode placement
C. Incorrect anesthetic dosage
D. Equipment malfunction
Answer: B) Inadequate electrode placement
Rationale: Incorrect electrode placement can lead to inaccurate
MEP recordings, either giving false positives or failing to detect
true motor pathway injury.
