Somatosensory evoked potentials in carotid artery stenting: Effectiveness in ascertaining cerebral ischemic events

• We report on the use of somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) in carotid artery stenting (CAS).
• Change in SSEP is highly specific and sensitive in ascertaining clinical stroke after CAS.
• Prolonged SSEP changes positively correlate with complications.
• SSEP in CAS is an effective tool in ascertaining cerebral ischemic events.

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) have been used in various endovascular procedures and carotid endarterectomy, but to our knowledge no literature deals exclusively with the utility of SSEP in carotid artery stenting (CAS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of SSEP in detecting cerebral ischemic events during CAS. We conducted a prospective study in 35 CAS procedures in 31 patients during an 18 month period. Thirty-three patients without near occlusion underwent stenting using dual protection (simultaneous flow reversal and distal filter) combined with blood aspiration, while two patients with near occlusion underwent stenting without dual protection. All 35 patients underwent SSEP monitoring. SSEP were generated by stimulating median and/or tibial nerves and recorded by scalp electrodes. During the aspiration phase post-dilation, seven patients (20%) exhibited SSEP changes with a mean duration of 11.3 ± 8.5 minutes (range: 3–25 minutes), three of whom later developed minor stroke/transient ischemic attack. Diffusion-weighted imaging showed new lesions in 10 patients (28.6%). Change in SSEP exhibited mean sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval, 0.29–1.0) and specificity of 88% (95% confidence interval, 0.71–0.96) in predicting clinical stroke post-CAS. Intra-procedural SSEP change was predictive of post-procedural complications (p = 0.005, Fisher’s exact test). Longer span of SSEP change was positively correlated with complications (p = 0.032, Mann–Whitney test). Intra-procedural SSEP changes are highly sensitive in predicting neurological outcome following CAS. Chances of complications are increased with prolongation of such changes. SSEP allows for prompt intra-procedural ischemia prevention measures and stratification to pursue an aggressive peri-procedural protocol for high risk patients to mitigate neurological deficits.