Neurosurgical and Vascular Anesthesiology

Anesthesia for vascular surgery and neurosurgical procedures can be extremely complex and rewarding. We enjoy busy vascular and neurosurgical schedules, especially at Emory University Hospital and Grady Memorial Hospital. Neurosurgical and Vascular Anesthesiology rotations offer a concentrated study of providing anesthesia for patients undergoing major neurological (intracranial or spinal) and vascular procedures. Residents gain experience in the management of patients with a wide variety of neurological problems: patients with intracranial vascular and non-vascular lesions, and vascular patients having open repairs as well as those having endovascular stent placement procedures. Typical procedures seen include intracranial aneurysm clippings, tumor resections, percutaneous shunt placements for patients with ventricular malformations and elevated ICP, burr hole decompression for acute intracranial hemorrhage, pituitary tumor resections, endovascular aortic stents, carotid endarterectomies (CEAs), abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repairs, and vascular bypasses for peripheral occlusive disease. 

Training includes optimizing fluid management and performing fiberoptic intubations in patients with halo frames. Residents will also learn the basics of electrophysiology:

• Anatomy
• Physiology and neural pathways as they apply to somatosensory evoked potentials
• Brainstem auditory evoked potentials
• EEG and EMG monitoring
• Cortical strip monitoring