Monitoring Nervous-System Function During Surgery
Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) uses neurophysiological recording equipment during selected surgical procedures. Its purpose is to observe the functional integrity of neurological structures such as the brain, spinal cord, nerve roots and peripheral nerves while surgery is taking place.
Monitoring Nervous-System Function During Surgery
Intraoperative Neuromonitoring (IONM) uses neurophysiological recording equipment during selected surgical procedures. Its purpose is to observe the functional integrity of neurological structures such as the brain, spinal cord, nerve roots and peripheral nerves while surgery is taking place.
Changes in recorded signals can provide the surgical team with information that may allow them to assess and respond to a possible neurological risk during the procedure.
Why Is IONM Used?
IONM supports the surgical team but cannot remove every surgical risk or guarantee a particular outcome.
Procedures Where Monitoring May Be Considered
Procedures Where Monitoring May Be Considered
- Selected spinal procedures
- Brain and neurosurgical procedures
- Vascular procedures
- Orthopedic procedures
- Ear-, nose- and throat procedures
- Operations involving peripheral nerves
- Procedures where neural structures may be at risk
Possible Monitoring Techniques
- Somatosensory evoked potentials
- Motor evoked potentials
- Electromyography
- EEG
- Brainstem auditory evoked responses
- Cranial-nerve monitoring
- Nerve mapping
What Happens Before and During Surgery?
The planned operation is reviewed
The surgical and monitoring teams review the planned operation.
Monitoring electrodes will be inserted
Monitoring needle electrodes will be inserted into selected muscles after anesthesia.
Baseline recordings are obtained
Baseline recordings are obtained.
Recordings continue during surgery
Recordings continue during key stages of the operation.
Significant changes are communicated
Significant changes are communicated to the surgical team.
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