Practices in Neurosurgical Anesthesia – A Survey among Austrian Centers

Fantin R1*#, Kerbler L1#, Michels N1, Graf-Huijsmans S1, Frisch C1, Illievich U2, Mirth C3, Klein KU4 and Jochberger S1

1Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
2Department of Neuroanesthesia and Intensive Care, Kepler University Hospital, Austria
3Clinical Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital, St. Pölten, Austria
4Department of Anesthesia, General Intensive Care and Pain Management, Medical University of Vienna, Austria #Both authors contributed equally to this work.

^*Correspondance to: Raffaella Fantin 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.3641

Abstract

Introduction: The discipline of neuroanesthesia provides vital services to facilitate neurosurgery and postoperative intensive care, and is a main contributor to patient outcomes. Even though individual anesthetic interventions are regularly subject to scientific scrutiny, no exhaustive systemic overview of adopted methods in different Austrian neurosurgical centers has been delivered to date. In order to establish a cross-sectional overview of practice among eleven Austrian neurosurgical centers, we conducted a digital survey, which included 72 questions in four sections, namely general features of participating centers, characteristics of neuroanesthesia for cranial as well as spinal surgery, and peculiarities of neurosurgical intensive care. Methods: We carried out a 72-item, cross-sectional online questionnaire which allowed for different types of answers upon invitation via e-mail. After conclusion of the survey and screening of given answers, we applied descriptive statistics in order to present our dataset in tabular and free-text form. Results: At 100% response rate, we were able to compile an exhaustive overview of neuroanesthesia among all Austrian neurosurgical centers. Conclusion: We demonstrate and discuss specific areas of interest, especially in areas in which conclusive scientific evidence has not been delivered to date. Commonalities and differences of standard neuroanesthetic practice, available diagnostic and therapeutic resources and organizational specifics across our sample were identified.

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Cite the article

Fantin R, Kerbler L, Michels N, Graf- Huijsmans S, Frisch C, Illievich U, et al. Practices in Neurosurgical Anesthesia – A Survey among Austrian Centers. Clin Surg. 2023; 8: 3641..