Wada test
Pronunciation: WAH-da
Invasive procedure to determine language and memory dominance before epilepsy surgery by temporarily anesthetizing one brain hemisphere.
Full Definition
The Wada test, formally known as intracarotid sodium amobarbital procedure, involves selective injection of anesthetic into the carotid artery to temporarily suppress function in one brain hemisphere. This allows assessment of language and memory function in the contralateral hemisphere, helping surgeons predict potential deficits from temporal lobe surgery. While still considered the gold standard for determining hemispheric dominance, the procedure is increasingly being replaced by non-invasive functional MRI and magnetoencephalography techniques.
Usage
Usage note: Capitalize 'Wada' as it is named after neurologist Juhn Wada; often replaced by non-invasive alternatives in modern practice.
In Context
- "Wada testing confirmed left hemisphere language dominance prior to temporal lobectomy." — Presurgical evaluation summary
- "The patient declined Wada test and opted for functional MRI language mapping instead." — Clinical decision note