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Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP) Flashcards

6 cards from real CNIM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. Interpeak latency between N20 and N13 reflects conduction through which segment of the somatosensory pathway?

    Answer: Cervical spinal cord to cortex

    The N13–N20 interpeak latency reflects conduction time from the cervical spinal cord through the brainstem and thalamus to the primary somatosensory cortex.

  2. Which stimulation parameter is most important for obtaining optimal SSEP responses during intraoperative monitoring?

    Answer: Pulse duration and current intensity sufficient to produce a motor twitch

    Using a pulse duration and current intensity that produces a small motor twitch (supramaximal sensory stimulation) ensures reliable activation of large-diameter sensory fibers for SSEP recording.

  3. A unilateral loss of SSEP with the contralateral side intact during cervical spine surgery most likely suggests:

    Answer: Ipsilateral posterior spinal cord or nerve root compromise

    Unilateral SSEP loss during cervical spine surgery suggests ipsilateral dorsal column or nerve root compromise at the surgical level, requiring immediate surgeon notification.

  4. What is the typical stimulation pulse duration used for median nerve SSEP in intraoperative monitoring?

    Answer: 0.2 ms

    A pulse duration of approximately 0.2 ms (200 microseconds) is standard for peripheral nerve stimulation during intraoperative SSEP monitoring.

  5. Why are reference baselines obtained after anesthetic induction but before surgical incision in SSEP monitoring?

    Answer: To establish anesthetic-state baselines that account for drug effects before comparing surgical changes

    Baselines are obtained after stable anesthesia induction so that subsequent changes can be compared against an anesthetic-adjusted reference, isolating surgically induced changes.

  6. Which condition is SSEP monitoring LEAST sensitive for detecting during spinal cord surgery?

    Answer: Anterior cord syndrome

    SSEPs monitor the dorsal columns and are poorly sensitive to anterior cord syndrome, which primarily affects motor pathways and is better detected with MEP monitoring.

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