Update in Neuroanesthesia—An Anesthesiology Clinics Issue Affiliated with SNACC

Abstract

Neuroanesthesiology has a long history as the essence of the practice of anesthesiology, altering the brain to allow surgery and supporting systemic physiology to support the brain. As such, the field has evolved significantly from the era of finger on the pulse and giving urea for intraoperative brain edema. We have dealt with many historic issues, which have included induced hypotension, venous air embolism, circulatory arrest, neuroprotection, measurement and maintenance of cerebral and spinal cord blood flow, neural mechanisms of anesthesia, pain management, and neurotoxicity. Many of these transitions have been well reviewed in two historical pieces on the history of Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC), one by Albin at 25 years 1 and one by Kofke at 40 years of SNACC. 2 This history indicates that the field is serially changing as well, demonstrated by a series of annual reviews by Pasternak and Lanier, [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] such that periodic reviews such as this issue of Anesthesiology Clinics are needed and welcomed.This issue of Anesthesiology Clinics provides a timely update of several topics relevant to Neuroanesthesiology. Notably, all of the authors are members of the SNACC, and all of the editors are present or past members of the SNACC board of directors. Although the issue has not undergone review for formal endorsement by SNACC, it is nonetheless justifiably considered to be SNACC affiliated with approval of the SNACC board of directors for this designation.This work is published in collaboration with the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care.