Anesthesia and neuromonitoring

Intraoperative neuromonitoring has proved to be a valuable and safe technique for assessing patients’ neurologic status during spine surgery. The effects of anesthesia and the feasibility of obtaining intraoperative neuromonitoring signals during spine surgery have been well investigated. Total intravenous anesthesia appears to be the most reliable and consistent at allowing attainment of neuromonitoring signals. Motor evoked potentials are most vulnerable to anesthetic agents. Changes in neuromonitoring signals observed during spine surgery may be caused by multiple factors. Establishing a standard protocol to investigate changes in intraoperative neuromonitoring signals is important and may prove valuable in preventing neurologic complications.