Near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring of the spinal cord during type B aortic dissection surgery.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive continuous monitoring method for measuring the oxyhemoglobin saturation of the brain tissue. NIRS monitoring can suggest neuronal hypoxia in the frontal-brain before irreversible impairment of cellular metabolism. We report two cases of Type B aortic dissection surgery in which spinal regional perfusion monitoring was performed by placing two NIRS sensors on the back-skin through T6-T8 and T9-T11 vertebraes.