Spinal cord stimulators and implications for anaesthesia

Management strategies for patients with neurologic stimulators during nonneurologic surgery: an update and review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The goal of this review is to summarize the perioperative management of noncardiac implanted electrical devices (NCIEDs) and update the anesthesiologist on current recommendations for management when a NCIED is encountered during a nonneurosurgical procedure.

RECENT FINDINGS

Indications for NCIEDs continue to expand, and increasing numbers of patients with NCIEDs are presenting for nonneurosurgical procedures. Recent case reports demonstrate that NCIEDs may meaningfully affect perioperative management including use of electrocautery and neuromonitoring. This review highlights the importance of evaluating NCIED function (including lead impedance) prior to surgery, provides an update on the MRI compatibility and safety of these devices, and reviews the management of patients with altered respiratory drive because of vagal nerve stimulators.

SUMMARY

As the prevalence of NCIEDs in patients presenting for surgery increases, anesthesiologists will likely encounter these devices more frequently. To provide a well tolerated anesthetic, anesthesiologists should recognize the concerns associated with NCIEDs and how best to address them perioperatively.

Perioperative and anesthetic considerations for the management of neuromodulation systems

The use of neuromodulation systems is increasing for the treatment of various pathologies ranging from movement disorders to urinary incontinence to chronic pain syndromes. While the type of neuromodulation devices varies, they are largely categorized as intracranial (eg, deep brain stimulation), neuraxial (eg, spinal cord stimulation, dorsal root ganglion stimulation, and intrathecal drug delivery systems), or peripheral (eg, sacral nerve stimulation and peripheral nerve stimulation) systems. Given the increasing prevalence of these systems in the overall population, it is important for anesthesiologists, surgeons, and the perioperative healthcare team to familiarize themselves with these systems and their unique perioperative considerations. In this review, we explore and highlight the various neuromodulation systems, their general perioperative considerations, and notable special circumstances for perioperative management.

Erector Spinae Plane Catheter for Postoperative Thoracotomy Pain in a Patient With Indwelling Spinal Cord Stimulators: A Case Report

Analgesia after thoracotomy is challenging but important as inadequate pain control may result in early postoperative complications and a higher risk for post-thoracotomy pain syndrome. The authors report the successful utilization of an erector spinae plane (ESP) catheter for post-thoracotomy analgesia in a 40-year-old female with two dual-leaded spinal cord stimulators (SCS) in the cervical and thoracic levels. Although thoracic epidural analgesia is the current standard, epidural catheterization may present with obstructive, mechanical, or infectious concerns in patients with SCS. The ESP block may be a preferable approach to postoperative analgesia after thoraco-abdominal surgery over the thoracic epidural for patients with SCS.