Updates in Neuroanesthesia

Abstract

Providing anesthesia care to neurosurgical and neurocritical care patients presents unique challenges to the anesthesiologist. Over the last century, anesthetic care for such patients has become a robustly studied field, with tools and techniques to keep patients safe and comfortable in the perioperative period. A review of the major updates and considerations for perioperative care for awake craniotomies, thrombectomy for stroke, and endoscopic neurosurgery is critical for the anesthesiologist. Additionally, newly developed enhanced recovery after surgery procedures have improved patient experiences and outcomes after both cranial and spinal neurosurgery. Finally, post-operative delirium is a major neurologic complication in elderly patients undergoing all types of procedures which all anesthesiologists should be well versed in. Here, such topics are reviewed with a focus on recent updates to the literature which are important for clinical practice.