Neural Protection Monitoring Protocol

The neural monitoring technologist will confirm the surgery time the evening before the procedure and/or the morning of, to ensure that surgeries are not missed due to changes in the schedule. When a Biotronic employee arrives in the surgical area, approximately one hour prior to the scheduled surgery time, he/she will notify the appropriate operating room (OR) staff of his/her arrival and arrange to have the equipment approved by the biomedical department as required by the hospital. The neural monitoring technologist will then change into surgical attire and set-up his/her equipment.

The neural monitoring technologist will see the patient in the pre-op holding area prior to entering the operating room, and obtain a pre-operative baseline reading. Upon approaching the patient, the neural monitoring technologist will introduce himself or herself, explain the procedures involved in neural monitoring, and answer any questions that the patient may have regarding the monitoring process.

After obtaining baseline responses, the neural monitoring technologist will proceed to the operating room to monitor the case. When the surgeon arrives in the operating room, the neural monitoring technologist will confirm the type of procedure being performed as well as the types of monitoring that will be needed for neural protection during the case. During the surgery, the neural monitoring technologist will continuously monitor the patient and inform the surgeon of the patient's neurophysiologic status, as deemed appropriate. While the neural monitoring technologist monitors the case from the hospital, a physician will oversee the surgery through a secure virtual private network (VPN) and can intervene if a complication arises.

A copy of the surgical monitoring log, along with pre-operative, intraoperative baseline, and closing responses, as well as any other significant information will be placed in the patient's chart before the neural monitoring technologist leaves the hospital.