Spinal Cord Tumor Surgery

A spinal cord tumor is any tumor involving the spinal cord or immediate surrounding area. Tumors typically are classified as extradural, intradural extramedullary, or intramedullary intradural. Many spinal cord tumor resections attempt to balance tumor removal with preservation of neurologic function. It is important that anesthesiologists be familiar with the common perioperative risks involved in resection of spinal cord tumors as well as how to form an anesthetic plan that takes intraoperative neuromonitoring and patient comorbidities into consideration. Other risks of prolonged spinal tumor resection include postoperative visual loss, acute on chronic pain, and delayed awakening.