[Pelvic Intraoperative Neuromonitoring - Update and Pilot Study on Telementoring]

Pelvic intraoperative neuromonitoring (pIONM) is emerging as a key tool to enhance functional outcomes following rectal cancer surgery. This paper synthesizes current evidence on pIONM, including findings from the multicenter, randomized NEUROS trial, which demonstrated significant benefits for urinary, sexual, and ano-(neo-)rectal functions. Additionally, the role of telementoring as a catalyst for standardized robotic assisted pIONM adoption is explored. Three case studies illustrate the low cognitive burden on surgeons during telemedicine-assisted monitoring, assessed via the NASA-TLX questionnaire (TLX-score varied from 5.0 to 24.3). The results highlight pIONM's potential to prevent nerve damage and improve patient quality of life, with telementoring poised to facilitate broader implementation.