Anesthesia for diagnostic procedures.

Invasive procedures such as angiography, pneumoencephalography and bronchography are often facilitated by the skillful administration of carefully selected anesthesia. The advantages of general anesthesia versus an awake patient during cerebral angiography are not yet resolved. Although computerized tomography and myelography can usually be accomplished with no anesthesia and local anesthesia, respectively, in children and in confused, uncooperative patients, sedation or general anesthesia may be necessary.