Anaesthesiological and criterial care aspects regarding the treatment of patients with arteriovenous malformations in interventional neuroradiology.

In recent years, the neuroradiological treatment of cerebral and spinal arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has undergone significant evolution and improvement. Endovascular embolisation procedures of AVMs are mainly performed under general anaesthesia. Different pathophysiological characteristics of patients with AMVs must be considered for the choice of the anaesthetic procedures. Anaesthesiological management must aim at maintaining stable intracranial haemodynamics; thus, the drugs used must be evaluated according to their effects on brain perfusion, brain metabolism, and intracranial pressure. Rapid recovery to normal central nervous functions should be obtained postoperatively. Close-meshed neurological surveillance should be exercised in order to detect immediately any alteration of neurological state. In summary, anaesthesiological management of interventional neuroradiology is based on the same well-established principles as anaesthesia in neurosurgery.