M. A. Schepens

The effect of two low-dose propofol infusions on the relationship between six-pulse transcranial electrical stimulation and the evoked lower extremity muscle response

Background: Transcranial stimulation of the motor cortex using high‐voltage electrical stimuli given in train is a method of monitoring the integrity of the motor pathways during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the stimulus intensity and the corresponding amplitude of the myogenic motor evoked potential (tcMEP) in response to six‐pulse transcranial electrical stimulation during two levels of low‐dose propofol infusion and stable fentanyl/nitrous oxide anaesthesia.

Spinal Cord Injury in Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm Surgery: Methods of Intra-operative Protection of the Spinal Cord

Aneurysms extending from the descending thoracic aorta into the abdominal aorta are classified as thoracoabdominal aneurysms. The first thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm was replaced by a homograft in 1954 [1]. With the current anaesthetic practice and advances in operative techniques, respiratory management, intensive care and graft materials the 30 days in-hospital- mortality and morbidity have been improved, but are still high. A mortality range of 8–35%, an incidence of paraplegia/paraparesis of 16–38%, an incidence of renal failure of 18–27% and re-exploration for bleeding in 7% of the cases have been reported [2, 3, 4, 5, 6].