Background and Purpose Statins are neuroprotective in a variety of experimental models of cerebral injury. We sought to determine whether patients taking statins prior to asymptomatic carotid endarterectomy (CEA) exhibit a lower incidence of neurologic injury (clinical stroke and cognitive dysfunction). Methods Three hundred twenty-eight (328) patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis scheduled for elective CEA consented to participate in this observational study of perioperative neurologic injury. Results Patients taking statins had a lower incidence of clinical stroke (0.0% vs. 3.1%, P=0.02) and cognitive dysfunction (11.0% vs. 20.2%, P=0.03). In a multivariate regression model, statin use was significantly associated with decreased odds of cognitive dysfunction (OR: 0.51 [0.27-0.96], P=0.04). Conclusions Pre-operative statin use was associated with less neurologic injury following asymptomatic CEA. These observations suggest that it may be possible to further reduce the perioperative morbidity of CEA. Clinical Trial Registration-URL: http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov. Unique Identifier: NCT00597883.

Background: Scatter radiation during interventional radiology procedures can produce cataracts in participating medical personnel. Standard safety equipment for the radiologist includes eye protection. The typical configuration of fluoroscopy equipment directs radiation scatter away from the radiologist and toward the anesthesiologist. This study analyzed facial radiation exposure of the anesthesiologist during interventional neuroradiology procedures. Methods: Radiation exposure to the forehead of the anesthesiologist and radiologist was measured during 31 adult neuroradiologic procedures involving the head or neck. Variables hypothesized to affect anesthesiologist exposure were recorded for each procedure. These included total radiation emitted by fluoroscopic equipment, radiologist exposure, number of pharmacologic interventions performed by the anesthesiologist, and other variables. Results: Radiation exposure to the anesthesiologist's face averaged 6.5 Ϯ 5.4 Sv per interventional procedure. This exposure was more than 6-fold greater (P Ͻ 0.0005) than for noninterventional angiographic procedures (1.0 Ϯ 1.0) and averaged more than 3-fold the exposure of the radiologist (ratio, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.8 -4.5). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the exposure of the anesthesiologist was correlated with the number of pharmacologic interventions performed by the anesthesiologist and the total exposure of the radiologist. Conclusions: Current guidelines for occupational radiation exposure to the eye are undergoing review and are likely to be

Background Multi-level spinal decompressions and fusions often require long anesthetic and operative times which may result in airway edema and prolonged post-operative intubation. Delayed extubation can lead to broncho-pulmonary infections and other complications. This study analyzed which factors correlated with the decision to delay extubation after multilevel spine surgery. Methods We reviewed the records of 289 patients having multilevel spine surgery lasting 8 hours or more in the prone position from 2006 to 2012. Variables hypothesized to affect the decision of the anesthesiologist to delay extubation at the end of the surgery were collected. These included preoperative factors (age, gender, ASA Class, history of obstructive sleep apnea, BMI, previous spine surgery, current cervical surgery, anterior in addition to posterior spine surgery, emergency surgery), and intraoperative factors (difficult intubation, number of surgical levels, case time, estimated blood loss, fluid and blood administration, attending handoff and resident handoff, and case end time). We also compared the incidence of pulmonary post-operative complications between patients extubated at the end of the case to patients who had a delayed extubation. Results 126 patients (44%) were kept intubated after multilevel spine surgery. Multiple linear regression analysis showed factors that correlated with prolonged intubation included age, ASA Class, procedure duration, extent of surgery, total crystalloid volume administered, total blood volume administered, and the case end time. Patients who had a delayed extubation had a threefold higher rate of post-operative pneumonia. Conclusions Our study finds that age, ASA class, procedure duration, extent of surgery, and total crystalloid and blood volume administered correlate with the decision to delay extubation in multilevel prone spine surgery. It also finds that the time that the case ends is an independent variable that correlates with the decision not to extubate at the end of a long multi-level spinal surgery. The incidence of post-operative pneumonia is higher in patients who had a delayed extubation after surgery.

Background A common practice during cross-clamp of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is to manage mean arterial pressure (MAP) above baseline to optimize collateral cerebral blood flow and reduce risk of ischemic stroke. Objective To determine whether MAP management ≥20% above baseline during cross-clamp is associated with lower risk of early cognitive dysfunction, a subtler form of neurologic injury than stroke. Methods One hundred eighty-three patients undergoing CEA were enrolled in this ad hoc study. All patients had radial arterial catheters placed prior to induction of general anesthesia. MAP was managed at the discretion of the anesthesiologist. All patients were evaluated with a battery of neuropsychometric tests pre-operatively and 24hrs post-operatively. Results Overall, 28.4% of CEA patients exhibited early cognitive dysfunction (eCD). Significantly fewer patients with MAP ≥20% above baseline during cross-clamp exhibited eCD than those managed <20% above (11.6% vs. 38.6%, P<0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression model, MAP ≥20% above baseline during the cross-clamp period was associated with significantly lower risk of eCD (OR: 0.18 [0.07–0.40], P<0.001), while diabetes mellitus (OR: 2.73 [1.14–6.61], P=0.03) and each additional year of education (OR: 1.19 [1.06–1.34], P=0.003) were associated with significantly higher risk of eCD. Conclusion The observations of this study suggest MAP management ≥20% above baseline during cross-clamp of the carotid artery may be associated with lower risk of eCD after CEA. More prospective work is necessary to determine whether MAP ≥20% above baseline during cross-clamp can improve the safety of this commonly performed procedure.

Anaesthetic management of the acute stroke patient demands consideration of the penumbra as the central focus. Recent studies have shown that patients who receive general anaesthesia for endovascular therapy for acute ischaemic stroke have worse outcomes than those who receive local anaesthesia. Although baseline condition of the patients in these studies differed, we should heed the warnings evident in the results. 'Time is brain': therapy should be quickly provided. Arterial pressure should be monitored carefully upon induction, avoiding a drastic reduction, and allowing for a reduction in arterial pressure upon recanalization. Keeping these factors in mind, anaesthetic technique (general, monitored anaesthesia care, or local) must be selected considering the individual patient's risks and benefits. Unfortunately, there are no proven neuroprotective strategies to date for use in acute ischaemic stroke.