%0 Journal Article
%T Radiofrequency thermocoagulation under neuromonitoring guidance and general anesthesia for treatment of refractory trigeminal neuralgia.
%A Abboud T
%A Malinova V
%A Rohde V
%A Mielke D
%J Acta Neurochir (Wien)
%V 166
%N 1
%D 2024 Feb 2
%M 38302773
%F 2.816
%R 10.1007/s00701-024-05964-9
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) for refractory trigeminal neuralgia is usually performed in awake patients to localize the involved trigeminal branches. It is often a painful experience. Here, we present RFT under neuromonitoring guidance and general anesthesia.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Stimulation of trigeminal branches at the foramen ovale with the tip of the RFT cannula is performed under short general anesthesia. Antidromic sensory-evoked potentials (aSEP) are recorded from the 3 trigeminal branches. The cannula is repositioned until the desired branch can be stimulated and lesioned.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>aSEP enable accurate localization of involved trigeminal branches during RFT and allow performing the procedure under general anesthesia.