Arterial pressure manipulation alters spinal cord function during correction of scoliosis

Abstract

The benefits of deliberate hypotension during operative treatment of scoliosis must be weighed against the possibility that hypotension might increase the risk of neurologic complications recovering from which is unlikely. Assessment of spinal cord function intraoperatively may be useful. This can be accomplished using either the 'wake uptest' or somatosensory cortical evoked potential (SCEP) monitoring. A case report is presented demonstrating SCEP changes reproducibly related to arterial pressure during Harrington rod instrumentation for uncomplicated idiopathic scoliosis. The patient's favourable neurologic outcome may not have been possible without intraoperative monitoring.