The "intraoperative neuro monitoring" (IONM) service used for neurosurgery was introduced yesterday at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
As per a video that was posted by the hospital on Facebook, Maldives' most experienced neurosurgeon Dr. Ali Niyaf said that IONM is an important resource for the safety of the patient.
He stated that the main use of the resource is for doctors to see nerve functions during surgery so that they will be able to tend to any damage caused if it were to occur. Doctors will be alerted if they interact with an unrelated nerve during the surgery.
"We will be able to know if a nerve is damaged along with the percentage," said Dr. Niyaf.
"With that, we can change our approach during the operation and make it easier to continue from another angle."
Along with that, Dr. Niyaf said doctors are given time to tend to any sort of nerve damage due to the IONM during neck and spinal disc surgery.
"We will be able to tell if a nerve is being pinched while screws are being attached or the integrity of the screw as well. This will result in a decrease of unnecessary outcomes for the patient during the operation," said Niyaf regarding the use of IONM.
As per Niyaf, the dangers of neurosurgery can be avoided when the system is put into place.
