RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of "Protex" (Parker; Fairfield, NJ, USA) for disinfection of ultrasound probes. We examined bacterial contamination on ultrasound probes that were wiped with a plain paper towel, with a plain and an ethanol-soaked paper towel, or with a plain and Protex-soaked paper towel. The plain paper towel was used to remove the gel, and was contaminated by large numbers of bacteria, but the use of ethanol-soaked paper towels and that of paper towels soaked in Protex™ broad-spectrum disinfectant (Parker: Fairfield, NJ, USA) reduced those numbers markedly.
RESUMO
We carried out intraoperative monitoring of the pudental nerve while separating vertebral spinal tumors from the spinal cord in five patients, including four infants. Although monitoring using a manometer or needle electrodes has been reported, monitoring done with disk electrodes to ascertain the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) of the external sphincter muscle has not been yet attempted. Prior to the surgical procedure, we locate a point suitable for CAMP recording of the muscle. In our recent study, we determined that maximum action potentials were recorded in the part with the greatest depth from the individual anal verge. Therefore, the depth of the anal canal was preoperatively measured for the manometry method, and sphincter electrodes currently on the market were refigured to suit the infant's anal canal. After the two procedures described above, we were able to preserve the pudental nerves intraoperatively. The postoperative neurological findings of all five patients were unchanged. We introduce here this new method of intraoperative monitoring for preserving the pudental nerve.
