TABLE 1 |.
Troubleshooting table
| Step | Problem | Possible reason | Possible solution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Breathing is irregular | Isoflurane level is too high or low | Adjust isoflurane as needed |
| 9 | Breathing becomes slow and/or sporadic | Potential vagus nerve injury or ligation | Check to see whether the vagus nerve was ligated with the carotid artery. If yes, remove sutures and re-tie only the carotid artery Verify that the vagus nerve is not injured |
| 12 | Difficulty inserting tracheal cannula | Narrow trachea, large cannula | If the cannula is made of plastic, cut the tracheal cannula at an angle for easier insertion If the cannula is metal, use the end with the rounded edges for insertion |
| 13 | Ventilator is not providing flow | Tracheal cannula is blocked | Disconnect cannula from ventilator and check for blockages, verify air flow, and reconnect |
| 14 | Sudden change in CO2 level | Temperature Tracheal tube movement—altering of dead space | Alter heat-lamp setting or proximity Check tubing—verify tracheal insertion |
| 17 | Excess bleeding during laminectomy | Ruptured vertebral arteries | Use bone wax or hemostatic sponges to minimize blood loss. The hemostatic sponges absorb the blood, quickly clearing the field of view and allowing the investigator to finish the laminectomy |
| 23 | Excessive blood loss during craniotomy | Vasculature of skull is bleeding | Use bone wax to seal the open bone vessels or hemostatic sponges to quickly clear the field of view while finishing the craniotomy |
| 28A(ii) | Spinal cord is compressed by the intracellular electrode | Various | Adjust the shape of the electrode taper |
| No incoming volley | Wrong spinal cord segment | Move recording electrode rostrally and caudally along the spinal cord to confirm. Verify the polarity of the stimulating electrodes to rule out anode block | |
| 28A(ix) | Field potential not visible | Incorrect placement of the electrode | Move the electrode in the rostro-caudal or mediolateral direction Change the angle of the electrode with respect to the vertical. The larger the angle, the more lateral the motoneuron pools targeted |
| 28A(x) | Intracellular recordings are unstable | Movements of the vertebral column | Decrease the inspiration volume and adjust the other parameters to maintain adequate ventilation Improve fixation of the vertebral column on each side of laminectomy to prevent movements |