Neuromonitoring, or intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM), is a key component of modern neurosurgery, particularly in spine surgery. This technique enables continuous monitoring of nerve and spinal cord function during surgical interventions. The primary goal of neuromonitoring is to prevent damage to the nervous system and improve postoperative outcomes (1, 2).
Anesthesia during such operations plays a critical role, as the appropriate choice of anesthetic agents and techniques can impact both neuromonitoring effectiveness and patient safety (3).
Macdonald, D. B., Skinner, S., Shils, J., Yingling, C. (2013). Intraoperative motor evoked potential monitoring – a position statement by the American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring. Clinical Neurophysiology, 124(12), 2291-2316.
Lyon, R., Feiner, J., Lieberman, J. A. (2004). Progressive suppression of motor evoked potentials during general anesthesia: the role of inhalational anesthetic agents. Anesthesiology, 100(2), 478-482.
Sala, F., Lanteri, P., Bricolo, A. (2007). Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in spine surgery. European Spine Journal, 16(Suppl 2), S229-S234.
Calancie, B., Molano, M. R. (2008). Alarm criteria for motor-evoked potentials: what’s valid and what’s not. Spine, 33(4), 406-414.
Lall, R. R., Lall, R. R., Hauptman, J. S., Munoz, C., Cybulski, G. R., Koski, T. R., & Ondra, S. L. (2012). Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring in spine surgery: indications, efficacy, and role of the preoperative motor evoked potential baseline. Neurosurgical Focus, 33(5), E6.
Nuwer, M. R., Dawson, E. G., Carlson, L. G., Kanim, L. E., Sherman, J. E., & Reed, S. (1995). Somatosensory evoked potential spinal cord monitoring reduces neurologic deficits after scoliosis surgery: results of a large multicenter survey. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 96(1), 6-11.
Koht, A., Sloan, T. B., & Toleikis, J. R. (2017). Monitoring the Nervous System for Anesthesiologists and Other Health Care Professionals. Springer International Publishing.
Deletis, V., Sala, F. (2008). Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring in Neurosurgery. Springer Science & Business Media.
Thirumala, P. D., Bodily, L. M., & Tint, D. (2016). Evidence-based guidelines for the use of somatosensory evoked potentials and motor evoked potentials to monitor the integrity of the spinal cord during spinal deformity surgery. Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology, 33(1), 1-12.
Sloan, T. B., Heyer, E. J. (2002). Anesthesia for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring of the spinal cord. Journal of Clinical Neurophysiology, 19(5), 430-443.
