Application of intraoperative direct electrical stimulation in eloquent surgery:analysis of 86 consecutive cases

Objective To summarize the techniques for intra-operative direct electrical stimulation in eloquent surgery.Methods Clinical data of 86 patients with lesions on the eloquent areas who received direct electrical stimulation during the eloquent surgery were retrospectively analyzed.The maximal resection of lesions and minimal damage of the eloquent areas were the goal of the surgery.Results During the operation,the motor area was located in 74 patients,language related eloquent cortex in 37,and sensory cortex in 11.The lesion was totally resected in 51 cases(59.3%),subtotally in 26(30.2%),and partially in 9(10.5%).Transient motor dysfunction occurred in a unilateral limb post operation in 23 patients,transient language disorder in 17,and permanent functional motor limitation in 2.Conclusion Intraoperative direct electrical stimulation is a reliable,non-invasive method for functional mapping of the eloquent areas.This technique with a rational and correct selection of optimal parameters allows an improvement in the quality of surgical resection of lesions in the eloquent area.