TITLE:
Possible Cortical Spreading Depression Recorded Intraoperatively Following a Generalized Seizure: Illustrative Case
AUTHORS:
Greg Schaublin, Romina Shirka, Nabil Azar, Callan Broderick, Jayson Neil, George R. Lee, Kiara Ebinger
KEYWORDS:
Cortical Spreading Depression, Electroencephalography, Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring, Seizure
JOURNAL NAME:
Neuroscience and Medicine,
Vol.15 No.3,
July
10,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: We present a compelling case fitting the phenomenon of cortical spreading depression detected by intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) following an intraoperative seizure during a craniotomy for revascularization. Cortical spreading depression (CSD, also called cortical spreading depolarization) is a pathophysiological phenomenon whereby a wave of depolarization is thought to propagate across the cerebral cortex, creating a brief period of relative neuronal inactivity. The relationship between CSD and seizures is unclear, although some literature has made a correlation between seizures and a cortical environment conducive to CSD. Methods: Intraoperative somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and electroencephalography (EEG) were monitored continuously during the craniotomy procedure utilizing standard montages. Electrophysiological data from pre-ictal, ictal, and post-ictal periods were recorded. Results: During the procedure, intraoperative EEG captured a generalized seizure followed by a stepwise decrease in somatosensory evoked potential cortical amplitudes, compelling for the phenomenon of CSD. The subsequent partial recovery of neuronal function was also captured electrophysiologically. Discussion: While CSD is considered controversial in some aspects, intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring allowed for the unique analysis of a case demonstrating a CSD-like phenomenon. To our knowledge, this is the first published example of this phenomenon in which intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring captured a seizure, along with a stepwise subsequent reduction in SSEP cortical amplitudes not explained by other variables.