The investigation of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring and its Relevance to Neuroethics

Abstract

Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring evaluates nervous system responses during surgery and classifies data as normal or abnormal. However it has been difficult to standardize Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring results and to link intraoperative data to post-surgical outcomes, with alert criteria and concepts that contrast through laboratories and guidelines. Clinical Randomized Trials have not been applied for investigation because of ethical issues, but still more investigation is needed. Neuroethics and Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring are related because the latter encompass patient’s post-surgical outcome and life quality. In this paper investigation methods proposed for Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring are reviewed with consequent opinions. Moreover a quasi-experimental design for investigation is proposed, which is closer to Neuroethics and patients wellbeing.