Total Intravenous Anaesthesia for Intra-Operative Neurophysiological Monitoring

Abstract

Intra-operative neurophysiological monitoring is a well-established, safe and sensitive tool for detecting intra-operative injuries during neurosurgeries. Motor evoked potentials (MEP) and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) are monitored throughout the procedure and any significant change from baseline is noted as this may indicate a compromise of the monitored pathway. Anaesthesia especially inhaled agents and muscle relaxants are confounders for motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring as they have deleterious effects on the amplitude of the waveform signal. Total intravenous anaesthesia with no intraoperative muscle relaxants following intubation has been suggested as the preferred anaesthetic technique for these surgeries.T.I.V.A is an effective means of providing anesthesia for patients requiring intra-operative neurophysiological monitoring.