Hemodynamic instability of myelomeningocele patients during anterior spinal surgery.

Surgery for spinal fusion for patients with myelomeningocele is accompanied by a high rate of complications. The authors report six cases of sudden intra-operative hemodynamic instability which occurred during anterior spinal fusion; the procedures had to be aborted. All children were successfully resuscitated and four patients subsequently underwent successful anterior and posterior spinal fusion. Four of the children had positive skin and serum allergy tests to latex.