Anesthesia for cerebral aneurysm surgery

Abstract

Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage from ruptured cerebral aneurysms frequently have systemic manifestations including hypovolemia and fluid and electrolyte disturbances in addition to neurologic symptoms. Anesthetic management therefore begins with proper preoperative evaluation and optimization. Anesthetic induction and maintenance are partly dependent on the patient's condition and seek to optimize cerebral perfusion, facilitate surgical exposure, and reduce the risk of intraoperative aneurysm rupture. Cerebroprotective strategy and adjunct monitors may be useful in some institutions.