Management of Cerebropontine Angle Tumors on Total Intravenous Anaesthesia Facilitating Neuromuscular Monitoring: A Retrospective Observational Study

Background: With the increasing trend of IONM in neurosurgery the role of total intravenous anaesthesia has gained upper hand in the practice of neuro anaesthesia. Propofol based TIVA techniques facilitates rapid recovery of consciousness and psychomotor function with lower incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting. It also facilitates satisfactory IONM monitoring while maintaining the adequate depth of anaesthesia. Available literature focuses on the surgical aspects with IONM. Few studies are available, which compare TIVA with general anaesthesia that too without IONM. Earlier TIVA for IONM has been studied in patients undergoing kyphoscoliosis correction surgery. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of TIVA in facilitating IONM in resection of intracranial masses and to study its effects on hemodynamics and post op recovery. Methods: In our retrospective study of 23 cases, patients undergoing intracranial tumor mass excision surgeries requiring IONM were given standardized general anaesthesia using intubating dose of short acting muscle relaxant and further maintenance of anaesthesia was done using infusion of propofol and dexmeditomidine with the minimal inhalational agents. IONM was recorded successfully. Results: 18 patients were haemodyanamically stable. 3 patients had intermittent episodes of bradycardia, and 2 patients had hypotension. Three patients elicited dampened response requiring reduction in anaesthetic dose. Six patients exhibited delayed recovery. Conclusion: TIVA with propofol and dexmeditomidine is a good anaesthetic modality to facilitate IONM in resection of intracranial masses.