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Publish Date
Aug 12, 2022
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Abstract
Introduction: Bowel and bladder function are at risk during tumor resection and other surgeries of the conus, cauda equina, and nerve roots. This study demonstrates the ability to acquire triggered electromyography (t-EMG) from the external urethral sphincter (EUS) muscles by utilizing a urethral catheter with an electrode attached.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of neurophysiological monitoring data from two medical centers was performed. Seven intradural tumors and three tethered cord release surgeries that used urethral sphincter electrodes to record t-EMG were included in the analysis. The patients consisted of five females and five males with ages ranging from eight months to 67 years (median: 49 years). Our neuromonitoring paradigm included upper and lower extremity somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), and transcranial electrical motor evoked potentials (TCeMEPs), as well as spontaneous and triggered electromyography (EMG) from the external anal sphincter (EAS), EUS muscles and lower extremity muscles bilaterally. A catheter with urethral electrodes attached was used for recording spontaneous electromyography (s-EMG), t-EMG, and TCeMEPs from the skeletal muscle of the EUS. Train of four (TOF) was also recorded from the abductor hallucis muscle to monitor the level of muscle relaxant.
Results: We successfully recorded t-EMG responses from the EUS muscles in all patients (100%). It is worth noting that only one patient presented preoperatively with urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency. Almost immediately in the postoperative phase, the patient’s frequency and urgency improved, and the bladder function normalized within two weeks of having the tumor removed.
Conclusion: In this small series, we acquired t-EMG in 100% of patients when recorded from the EUS using a urethral catheter with electrodes built into it. T-EMGs can be attempted in surgeries that risk the pelvic floor's function. More study is needed to establish better statistical methods, better modality efficacy, and a better understanding of intraoperative countermeasures that may be employed when an alert is encountered to prevent impending neurological sequelae.
Keywords: External urinary sphincters, urinary incontinence, electromyography, EMG, IONM, neuromonitoring, cauda equina tumors, tethered cord, Sensory Evoked Potentials (SSEP), Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP)Cite this article as: Jahangiri F R, Asdi R A, Tarasiewicz I, et al. (June 10, 2019) Intraoperative Triggered Electromyography Recordings from the External Urethral Sphincter Muscles During Spine Surgeries. Cureus 11(6): e4867. doi:10.7759/cureus.4867
