Use of dilute epinephrine as an aid in facial nerve monitoring.

Facial nerve monitoring during otologic and neurotologic procedures has been previously described, and its use is becoming routine. Although these procedures are done under general anesthesia, lidocaine is often used as a vehicle for epinephrine to aid hemostasis during the procedure. The routine use of lidocaine in these preparations presents the theoretical and sometimes real problem of anesthetizing the facial nerve at the start of the procedure, thereby invalidating subsequent attempts at monitoring and stimulation. We present the data from our experience with 74 patients using an epinephrine solution 1:100,000 for infiltration without any local anesthetic. We have found this procedure to be effective in maintaining hemostasis, quite safe and well tolerated, and without adverse effects on the desired monitoring of the facial nerve.