What is a goal of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) of the sensory pathways?

Intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring (IONM) primarily aims to detect abnormalities that may develop during surgery, particularly those related to the sensory pathways. As surgery progresses, the monitoring allows for real-time assessments of neural function, enabling the team to identify any changes that could indicate potential damage or compromise to the sensory pathways. The goal is to intervene swiftly if any adverse changes are detected, which can help prevent permanent neurological deficits post-surgery.

By focusing on detecting abnormalities as they arise during the procedure, IONM enhances patient safety and surgical outcomes, allowing for immediate corrective actions based on the monitoring data. This real-time feedback is crucial in surgical environments where real-time neural integrity is a priority for optimal patient outcomes.

Other potential goals such as diagnosing pre-existing abnormalities, detecting systemic changes, or differentiating between local surgical effects and anesthetic impacts are less central to the immediate purpose of IONM during surgery, which is primarily about monitoring for developing issues rather than assessing conditions that were present prior or systemic influences.