Neuroanesthesiology update 2010.

We provide a summary of the 2010 literature pertinent to the care of neurosurgical patients and those requiring neurocritical care. In addition, we address topics in the basic neurosciences as they relate to neuroanesthesiology. This review incorporates studies not only from both neuroanesthesiology and general anesthesiology-focused journals, but also from neurology, neurosurgery, critical care, and internal medicine journals and includes articles published after January 1, 2010, through those available on-line by November 31, 2010. We will review the broad categories of general neuroanesthesiology, with particular emphasis on cerebral physiology and pharmacology, intracranial hemorrhage, carotid artery disease, spine surgery, traumatic brain injury, neuroprotection, and neurotoxicity. When selecting articles for inclusion in this review, we gave priority to those publications that had: (1) new or novel information, (2) clinical utility, (3) a study design possessing appropriate statistical power, and/or (4) meaningful, unambiguous conclusions.