[The use of brain stem auditory evoked potentials and electromyography in the monitoring of cranial nerves during skull base surgery].

Cranial nerves and the brainstem are at risk of being injured during skull base operations. The result might be the patient's death or severe neurological deficits. Brainstem auditory evoked potential is an accepted method of intraoperative auditory nerve or brainstem monitoring. Other cranial nerves are monitored using electromyography and evoked muscle activity recorded from appropriated muscle groups.