IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 50 / Issue 9 / DOI: 10.31083/j.ceog5009198
Open Access Original Research
Integration of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring into Laparoscopic Pelvic Nerve Decompression Surgery: A Novel Technique for Protecting Pelvic Nerves
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1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, 34865 Istanbul, Turkey
2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Gaziosmanpasa Research and Training Hospital, 34255 Istanbul, Turkey
3 Department of Neurology, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Bakirkoy Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital, 34147 Istanbul, Turkey
4 Department of Neurosurgery, University of Health Sciences Turkey, Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, 34865 Istanbul, Turkey
5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Acibadem Altunizade Hospital, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, 34662 Istanbul, Turkey
*Correspondence: e-jansu@hotmail.com (Elif Cansu Gundogdu)
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2023, 50(9), 198; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.ceog5009198
Submitted: 3 August 2023 | Revised: 30 August 2023 | Accepted: 4 September 2023 | Published: 22 September 2023
Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Background: This study aims to present a novel technique that integrates intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) into laparoscopy for continuous monitoring of pelvic nerves at risk during surgery to ensure their protection. Methods: This is a prospective analysis of 10 consecutive patients receiving surgical treatment for proven diagnosis of lumbosacral plexus nerve entrapment. Patients with symptoms of chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, and severe, burning sharp pain on the lower extremity dermatomes were included. Laparoscopic decompression of lumbosacral plexus nerve entrapment with intraoperative neuromonitoring was performed between January 2021 and February 2022. Intraoperative neuromonitoring records (spontaneous electromyography (EMG), free-run EMG recordings, transcranial electrical motor-evoked potentials (TcMEP) recordings, direct nerve root stimulation recordings, and compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) recordings) and preoperative and postoperative pain symptoms at one month were analyzed. Results: The median age of the patients was 29 (25–44) years. Neurovascular conflict, fibrosis, and abnormal piriformis muscle were identified as the three main etiologies of nerve entrapments. There were no statistically significant differences in transcranial motor evoked potential responses on the operated extremity side before and after decompression surgery or in the amplitude difference changes of TcMEP responses between the operated and non-operated extremity sides (p > 0.05). Dyspareunia visual analogue scale (VAS) scores showed a significant decrease at the first month postoperatively (p-value = 0.027). Conclusions: Integrating intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring into laparoscopy facilitates the monitoring of the patient’s motor function and prevents both permanent and transient nerve damage during pelvic nerve decompression surgery. This technique holds promise in enhancing surgical safety and preserving pelvic nerve function. The study was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov (registration number NCT06009640).

Keywords
intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM)
laparoscopic surgery
pelvic nerve decompression
lumbosacral plexus
neuromonitoring
peripheral nerve entrapment
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