Continuous intraoperative monitoring of autonomic nerves during low anterior rectal resection: an innovative approach for observation of functional nerve integrity in pelvic surgery.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to develop a methodological setup for continuous intraoperative neuromonitoring with intent to improve nerve-sparing pelvic surgery. METHODS: Fourteen pigs underwent low anterior rectal resection. Continuous stimulation of pelvic autonomic nerves was carried out with a newly developed tripolar surface electrode during lateral, anterolateral, and anterior mesorectal dissection. Neuromonitoring was performed under electromyography of the autonomic innervated internal anal sphincter. RESULTS: Continuous neuromonitoring resulted in significantly increased electromyographic amplitudes of the internal anal sphincter, confirming intact innervation throughout the whole dissection in each animal (median 0.9 µV, interquartile range 0.5; 1.5 vs. median 3.4 µV, interquartile range 2.1; 4.7) (p < 0.001). The median dissection time in each animal was 10 min within a median number of ten (range 8-13) tripolar electric stimulations. CONCLUSION: The present study is the first to demonstrate that continuous intraoperative monitoring of pelvic autonomic nerves during low anterior rectal resection is feasible.