Diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative pelvic autonomic nerve monitoring during rectal surgery: a systematic review.

O'Connor, A.; Rengifo, C.; Griffiths, B.; Cornish, JA.; Tiernan, JP.; Khan, J.; Nunoo-Mensah, JW.; Telford, K.; Harji, D.

Diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative pelvic autonomic nerve monitoring during rectal surgery: a systematic review.

All Authors

O'Connor, A.

Rengifo, C.

Griffiths, B.

Cornish, JA.

Tiernan, JP.

Khan, J.

Nunoo-Mensah, JW.

Telford, K.

Harji, D.

LTHT Author

Tiernan, James P

LTHT Department

Colorectal
John Goligher Colorectal Unit

Publication Date

2024

Item Type

Systematic Review
Journal Article

Abstract

PURPOSE: Anorectal and urogenital dysfunctions are common after rectal surgery and have a significant impact on quality of life. Intraoperative pelvic autonomic nerve monitoring (pIONM) has been proposed as a tool to identify patients at risk of these functional sequelae. This systematic review aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of pIONM in detecting anorectal and urogenital dysfunction following rectal surgery. METHODS: A systematic review of articles published since 1990 was conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies describing pIONM for rectal surgery and reporting anorectal or urogenital functional outcomes were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the QUADS-2 tool. The diagnostic accuracy of pIONM was established with pooled sensitivity and specificity alongside summary receiver-operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: Twenty studies including 686 patients undergoing pIONM were identified, with seven of these studies including a control group. There was heterogeneity in the pIONM technique and reported outcome measures used. Results from five studies indicate pIONM may be able to predict postoperative anorectal (sensitivity 1.00 [95% CI 0.03-1.00], specificity 0.98 [0.91-0.99]) and urinary (sensitivity 1.00 [95% CI 0.03-1.00], specificity 0.99 [0.92-0.99]) dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: This review identifies the diagnostic accuracy of pIONM in detecting postoperative anorectal and urogenital dysfunction following rectal surgery. Further research is necessary before pIONM can be routinely used in clinical practice. PROSPERO REGISTRATION DETAILS: CRD42022313934.