A Novel Method for Capturing the Visual Evoked Potential During Spine Surgery Under Total Intravenous Anesthesia

Spine surgery in the prone position (which involves lying face down) is associated with various visual changes, ranging from temporary changes in acuity (or sharpness) to permanent blindness. Known risk factors include low blood count (anemia) and long surgical times in the prone position under general anesthesia. While blindness is a rare outcome of this surgery, it is devastating and incompletely prevented by controlling known risk factors. Thus, improved monitoring and detection of visual injury during surgery is necessary. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a novel, non-invasive monitoring device can reliably record visual responses during spine surgery. The first phase of this study is completed and involved patients undergoing microdiscectomy surgery. The second phase of this study involves patients undergoing single-level lumbar spine decompression/fusion surgery.