• Yoshitsugu Yamada.
• Masui. 2015 May 1; 64 (5): 470-2.

AbstractIntraoperative neurophysiological monitoring has been increasingly utilized for many neurosurgical procedures as well as for spine and aortic surgery. The recent advances in monitoring devices and anesthesia techniques have improved the reliability and accuracy of intraoperative neurological monitoring. In this issue, we review the basic principle, methods, and clinical application of several modalities of neurological monitoring to detect neural tissue ischemia and the direct physical injury to the specific neural pathway during surgical procedures. These modalities include near-infrared spectroscopy, motor evoked potentials, somatosensory evoked potentials, auditory brainstem responses, and visual evoked potentials. Pitfalls and limitations of each modality are also discussed. Evidence for the efficacy of the monitoring varied with surgical procedures, but has been well validated in some procedures. Anesthesiologists can contribute to the reliability and efficacy of neurophysiological monitoring by maintaining good physiological homeostasis and stable levels of anesthesia during the surgical procedure. With appropriate knowledge and experience, the anesthesiologist should work together with the neuromonitoring staff and surgeon to ensure neurological safety for the patient during and after surgery.

3 keywords...

hide…