Document Type : Review Article

Authors

1 Fellowship of Neuro anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, School of Medicine, Taleghani Medical Research & Training Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

Intraoperative neuro-monitoring (IONM) is a crucial technique employed in neurosurgery to assess and preserve the functional integrity of the nervous system during surgical procedures. This scoping review aims to explore and summarize the existing literature on the utility of IONM in neurosurgery, focusing on its benefits, limitations, and current advancements. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted, and relevant studies published between 2010 and 2023 were included. The review encompassed a wide range of neurosurgical procedures, including spinal, cranial, and peripheral nerve surgeries. The included studies predominantly focused on the application of various IONM modalities, such as somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), electromyography (EMG), electroencephalography (EEG), and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs). The findings of this scoping review highlight the utility of IONM across different neurosurgical procedures. The use of IONM was consistently associated with a reduction in the incidence of postoperative neurological deficits, aiding in the prevention of nerve injuries and subsequent functional impairments. Furthermore, IONM was found to assist in identifying and localizing neural structures, guiding surgical approaches, and optimizing patient outcomes.

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