1. What is the purpose of SSEPs in IONM?
A. Monitor peripheral nerve function
B. Assess sensory pathways from peripheral nerves to the brain
C. Evaluate motor pathways
D. Detect muscle activity
Answer: B
Rationale: SSEPs assess the functional integrity of sensory pathways,
typically from the peripheral nerves to the somatosensory cortex.
2. What is a primary limitation of MEP monitoring?
A. Susceptibility to anesthetic effects
B. Inability to detect nerve root damage
C. Lack of specificity for motor pathway injuries
D. High false-positive rates
Answer: A
Rationale: MEPs are highly sensitive to anesthetic agents, particularly
those that suppress cortical excitability.
3. Which waveform component reflects subcortical activity in SSEPs?
A. N20
,B. P37
C. N13
D. P100
Answer: C
Rationale: N13 reflects subcortical activity in SSEPs.
4. What is the significance of the alarm criteria in IONM?
A. To detect technical artifacts
B. To notify surgeons of potential neurologic injury
C. To adjust anesthesia levels
D. To record patient movements
Answer: B
Rationale: Alarm criteria guide the team in recognizing significant
changes in monitoring signals that could indicate neurological
compromise.
5. Which factor can reduce the effectiveness of BAEPs?
A. Muscle relaxants
B. Background noise
C. Volatile anesthetics
D. Patient positioning
Answer: B
, Rationale: Background noise, especially in the operating room, can
interfere with the auditory signals used in BAEPs.
6. What does a sudden loss of MEPs during surgery most likely
indicate?
A. Brain ischemia
B. Damage to motor pathways
C. Peripheral nerve injury
D. Anesthetic effects
Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of MEPs often suggests a disruption in motor
pathways, which may result from ischemia, nerve injury, or spinal cord
compromise.
7. Why are BAEPs used during posterior fossa surgery?
A. To monitor cranial nerve VIII
B. To assess spinal cord integrity
C. To evaluate sensory pathways
D. To detect peripheral nerve injury
Answer: A
Rationale: BAEPs are used to monitor the function of cranial nerve
VIII and auditory pathways during posterior fossa surgeries.
A. Monitor peripheral nerve function
B. Assess sensory pathways from peripheral nerves to the brain
C. Evaluate motor pathways
D. Detect muscle activity
Answer: B
Rationale: SSEPs assess the functional integrity of sensory pathways,
typically from the peripheral nerves to the somatosensory cortex.
2. What is a primary limitation of MEP monitoring?
A. Susceptibility to anesthetic effects
B. Inability to detect nerve root damage
C. Lack of specificity for motor pathway injuries
D. High false-positive rates
Answer: A
Rationale: MEPs are highly sensitive to anesthetic agents, particularly
those that suppress cortical excitability.
3. Which waveform component reflects subcortical activity in SSEPs?
A. N20
,B. P37
C. N13
D. P100
Answer: C
Rationale: N13 reflects subcortical activity in SSEPs.
4. What is the significance of the alarm criteria in IONM?
A. To detect technical artifacts
B. To notify surgeons of potential neurologic injury
C. To adjust anesthesia levels
D. To record patient movements
Answer: B
Rationale: Alarm criteria guide the team in recognizing significant
changes in monitoring signals that could indicate neurological
compromise.
5. Which factor can reduce the effectiveness of BAEPs?
A. Muscle relaxants
B. Background noise
C. Volatile anesthetics
D. Patient positioning
Answer: B
, Rationale: Background noise, especially in the operating room, can
interfere with the auditory signals used in BAEPs.
6. What does a sudden loss of MEPs during surgery most likely
indicate?
A. Brain ischemia
B. Damage to motor pathways
C. Peripheral nerve injury
D. Anesthetic effects
Answer: B
Rationale: Loss of MEPs often suggests a disruption in motor
pathways, which may result from ischemia, nerve injury, or spinal cord
compromise.
7. Why are BAEPs used during posterior fossa surgery?
A. To monitor cranial nerve VIII
B. To assess spinal cord integrity
C. To evaluate sensory pathways
D. To detect peripheral nerve injury
Answer: A
Rationale: BAEPs are used to monitor the function of cranial nerve
VIII and auditory pathways during posterior fossa surgeries.
