# Suspected Somatosensory Evoked Potentials Pacing Atria During Cerebral Bypass Surgery: A Case Report

## TL;DR

A patient's heart rate changed during surgery when somatosensory evoked potentials were used, suggesting the stimulation affected the heart.

## Contribution

This case report suggests somatosensory evoked potentials may inadvertently pace atria during cerebral bypass surgery.

## Key findings

- A 48-year-old female showed heart rate changes during somatosensory evoked potentials stimulation.
- Stimulation frequency correlated with heart rate changes, suggesting atrial myocyte depolarization.
- The findings imply a novel interaction between neurophysiological monitoring and cardiac function.

## Abstract

Somatosensory evoked potentials are commonly utilized during surgery to assess the function of the central nervous system. We present a case of a 48-year-old female patient undergoing cerebral bypass surgery who was noted to have reproducible, stimulation frequency-dependent heart rate changes that coincided with somatosensory evoked potentials stimulation. We hypothesize that the somatosensory evoked potential stimulation current was depolarizing a foci of atrial myocytes, resulting in the initiation of the cardiac cycle.