Anesthetic management for pediatric spinal fusion: Implications of advances in spinal cord monitoring

Currently, the detection of emerging injury through intraoperative neurologic monitoring is the best way to prevent neurologic injury. This requires a team approach that includes the anesthesiologist, neurophysiologist, and surgeon. The monitoring modalities available for the patient must be considered in planning the anesthetic management. In addition, intraoperative care for the patient requires ongoing attention to how the anesthetic drugs are effecting spinal cord monitoring.