Anaesthetic management of a child with syringomyelia undergoing foramen magnum decompression: A case report

Syringomyelia is a neurological disorder where a cyst consisting of fluid is formed within the spinal cord which results in various neurological symptoms. Treatment could be either conservative in the absence of neurologic symptoms or definitive surgical treatment. The most important task for an anesthesiologist is to provide general anesthesia with the use of intraoperative neuromuscular monitoring (IONM) for better neurological outcomes during foramen magnum decompression. Here through the case report of a 16-year-old male child with syringomyelia posted for foramen magnum decompression, we tend to focus upon anesthetic management of syringomyelia and the use of IONM and its benefits over routine management.