Anaesthetic considerations for patients with neurosurgical implants

Abstract

Innovations in neurosurgical technology, neurosurgical techniques, approaches to surgical access, and interventional neuroradiology have revolutionized the treatment of many neurosurgical and neurological conditions, with many pathologies now amenable to surgical intervention; aggressive tumour resection in eloquent areas and on/adjacent to the motor strip, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, benign intracranial hypertension, pituitary tumour, intracranial aneurysm surgery, and radiological intervention to name a few. Survival rates over 5 and 10 yr have improved and it follows that patients with residual tumour, cerebrospinal diversion devices (shunts), indwelling therapeutic implants (devices) and stents, and spinal metal work are more likely to present to their local hospital for non-neurosurgical procedures.