Background: Pelvic autonomic nerve preservation avoids postoperative functional disturbances. The aim of this feasibility study was to develop a neuromonitoring system with simultaneous intraoperative verification of internal anal sphincter (IAS) activity and intravesical pressure. Methods: 14 pigs underwent low anterior rectal resection. During intermittent bipolar electric stimulation of the inferior hypogastric plexus (IHP) and the pelvic splanchnic nerves (PSN), electromyographic signals of the IAS and manometry of the urinary bladder were observed simultaneously. Results: Stimulation of IHP and PSN as well as simultaneous intraoperative monitoring could be realized with an adapted neuromonitoring device. Neurostimulation resulted in either bladder or IAS activation or concerted activation of both. Intravesical pressure increase as well as amplitude increase of the IAS neuromonitoring signal did not differ significantly between stimulation of IHP and PSN [6.0 cm H2O (interquartile range [IQR] 3.5–9.0) vs. 6.0 cm H2O (IQR 3.0–10.0) and 12.1 µV (IQR 3.0–36.7) vs. 40.1 µV (IQR 9.0–64.3)] (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Pelvic autonomic nerve stimulation with simultaneous intraoperative monitoring of IAS and bladder innervation is feasible. The method may enable neuromonitoring with increasing selectivity for pelvic autonomic nerve preservation.

Keywords:
Neuromonitoring, Pelvic autonomic nerves, Nerve-sparing surgery, Rectal cancer, Internal anal sphincter, Electrical stimulation
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