Anesthesia for Endovascular Neurosurgery

Abstract

This review considers important aspects in the provision of anesthesia for endovascular neurosurgery. Subject literature was reviewed to include important publications which have influenced neuro-interventional practice alongside recent meta-analyses to provide a contemporaneous evidence-based review. The scope of endovascular neurosurgery and interventional neuro-radiology continues to expand. The advancement of catheter and imaging technologies, alongside the development of novel techniques, has allowed a minimally invasive endovascular approach to be applied to pathologies previously only treatable by open surgery, and to patients previously considered unsuitable for invasive surgical approaches. This has led to increasing complexity in both the procedures performed and the patients encountered in the neuro-radiology suite. An understanding of the technical aspects, physiological requirements, and potential problems relating to each procedure is required to facilitate close cooperation between the anesthesiologist and neuro-interventional team, to provide safe and effective care.