Neurophysiological Intraoperative Monitoring

Neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring has developed into a complex field that uses many advanced neurophysiological techniques. Each of these techniques is tailored to monitor unique neural functions associated with the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. These techniques provide neuroprotection for patients by guarding neural structures that may be at risk during surgery. Using modalities including SSEP, TcMEP, VEP, AEP, EMG, and deep brain stimulation, intraoperative monitoring measures the brain's responses to sensory stimulation from outside the brain. By measuring the brain's responses, our neural monitoring technologists can detect effects such as lack of oxygen, a stretched nerve, or a mechanical disturbance during surgery. If an anomaly develops during surgery, a surgical intervention can reduce or eliminate nerve damage.

There are many important applications of evoked potential monitoring for neuroprotection. Generally, it involves stimulating a sensory nerve and measuring the response along its course, or stimulating a motor nerve (nerve going to the muscles) and measuring the response of the muscles. At Biotronic, we are interested in determining if the nerve pathway between the stimulator and the measurement site remains undisturbed. If the response changes or is delayed it may indicate that there is a problem, and immediate action should be taken to remedy the problem so it does not result in permanent neural damage.