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With the numerous advancements in healthcare, the industry is continually raising the bar for patient safety and furthering the standard of care. Auditing surgical outcomes and tracking quality assurance benchmarks are crucial for reporting accurate stats and addressing postoperative trends. Surgeons also perform multiple preoperative assessments, but with high-risk surgeries, it is imperative to have tools in place to monitor at-risk structures while actually inside the operating room. Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM) is the surgical tool that does just that. IONM uses various electrophysiological tests to monitor the cerebral vascular status of the patient and the neurological function as well.
IONM is more than checking vitals. We have a team of specialized neuromonitorists to advise the surgeons during vascular surgery. We make sure the anesthesiologist and surgeon are aware of the condition of the patient’s central nervous system and evaluate how the vascular system is responding to the operation. We do this by performing diagnostic tests that ensure the spine and brain have not undergone any distress that could cause a long-term neurovascular deficit or paralysis. Some of these diagnostics include motor evoked potentials (MEPs), brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAERs), and electromyography (EMGs) among others. The specialized neuromonitorists utilize these tools to confirm that the surgeon doesn’t compress blood vessels or nerves, which could cause permanent damage to the site.
If you are performing a carotid stent procedure or an aortic aneurysm repair, for example, IONM may be an option to explore. Since the anatomy of arteries and vessels differ from person to person, these variances can have an effect on the recovery period. IONM takes this into account during the actual surgery to carefully oversee specific regions for any signs of distress. By ensuring blood vessels maintain adequate blood flow to the heart, brain, and major blood vessels, IONM can prevent ischemia and possible stroke. Tracking neuro vascular status in real time will avoid neurovascular injury while in the operating room. Preventing damage before it happens is the key with neuromonitoring. Real-time testing gives the surgeon the ability to react instantly during the procedure and avoid damaging sensitive neuro vascular structures.
Surgical neurophysiological monitoring is quickly becoming a regular practice across the board. Neuromonitoring could very well be an option in your next carotid endarterectomy or vascular procedure. Take the initiative to receive an optimal level of care with one of the safest surgical practices available. With IONM on the rise, expect to see a decline in mortality rates and strokes. Neuromonitoring services reduces neurovascular injury, permanent nerve damage, and other risks of vascular complications. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring not only provides you with superior diagnostic examinations, but it sets your mind at ease before the operation begins. Contact our team of specialized neuromonitorists to decide if you should include neuro vascular monitoring in your practice to obtain more successful outcomes and increase overall patient safety.