Anaesthesia for neurosurgery

Publication date: Available online 24 October 2016 Source:Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine Author(s): Oliver Hambidge, Robert John Neuroanaesthesia is an expanding speciality that requires a good understanding of neurophysiology as well as the pathophysiology of raised intracranial pressure. Neuroanaesthetists need to ensure neurosurgical patients maintain an adequate cerebral perfusion pressure intraoperatively, while providing optimum operating conditions. To achieve this, a balanced anaesthetic technique preventing hypertensive surges and optimizing cerebral venous drainage by careful patient positioning is important. Knowledge of the therapeutic options available to the anaesthetist for decreasing ICP intraoperatively is essential. As neurosurgery evolves, it provides neuroanaesthetists with new challenges including awake craniotomies, stereotactic neurosurgery and intraoperative MRI.

Source: Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine - October 28, 2016 Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research