Neonatal intraoperative neuromonitoring in thoracic myelocystocele: a case report.

Thoracic myelocystocele are extremely rare, non-terminal, closed neural tube defects. Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is a mainstay of pediatric spinal surgery. However, in neonates and infants, incomplete myelination of the corticospinal tract presents unique challenges to successful use of IONM in this vulnerable patient population. Surgery can often be delayed until patients are older, but there are circumstances in which early intervention is necessary. We report a case of T6 myelocystocele resection and wound closure in an infant on day of life 15 with the use of IONM. To our knowledge, this is the youngest reported patient to undergo successful IONM in the spinal cord. Given that the majority of thoracic myelocystoceles present without any neurological deficits, early intervention for this rare closed spinal dysraphism is sometimes necessary. This case study reports the possibility of IONM use in neonatal patients and also highlights the techniques that make its use more possible.

Neurotoxicity, general anesthesia in young children, and a survey of current pediatric anesthesia practice at US teaching institutions.

BACKGROUND: Recent articles in both scholarly journals and the lay press about the topic of anesthetic related neurotoxicity have increased the awareness and discussion of this topic with parents and other pediatric medical specialties (i.e., surgeons, radiologists, and pediatricians). AIM: The purpose of the present study was to survey how a subset of pediatric anesthesia departments in the US have responded to the issue of anesthetic related neurotoxicity in terms of clinical practice, training and communication with other medical specialties, and the frequency and timing of discussions with families. METHODS: A survey consisting of 22 questions was sent to PALC (Pediatric Anesthesia Leadership Council) & PAPDA (Pediatric Anesthesia Program Directors Association) via SurveyMonkey. The survey was divided into sections on Anesthesia Faculty/Trainees, Parents and Non-Anesthesia Providers. Responses to the survey were solicited via email to PALC and PAPDA, and then followed up with reminders to individual emails using the mailing lists of both organizations. RESULTS: The results of this survey demonstrate that pediatric anesthesia programs around the US do not have a consistent approach in managing the topic of anesthesia-related neurotoxicity with pediatric anesthesiologists, anesthesiology residents, pediatric anesthesiology fellows and their non-anesthesia medical and surgical colleagues, as well as the discussion of this topic with parents. CONCLUSION: A significant need exists to provide information to other pediatric professionals and parents. A consistent message from all providers that includes what is known, and indeed more importantly what is not known may be a useful approach.