The Division of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology is part of a team of physicians and other healthcare professionals who together provide care for the more than 2000 adult and pediatric patients undergoing neurosurgical and neuro-interventional procedures at Ronald Reagan Medical Center and Santa Monica Hospital each year. In collaboration with colleagues from neurosurgery, neurophysiology, critical care, radiology, neurology and nursing, we provide care for adults and children undergoing a wide variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for the treatment of neurologic disorders including intracranial aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, stroke, epilepsy, brain tumors, hydrocephalus, spastic cerebral palsy, Chiari malformation, movement disorders, and diseases of the spine.
Division faculty participate in pre-anesthesia evaluation and postoperative care. We are fortunate to work in state-of-the-art operating and procedure rooms at UCLA Health venues in Westwood and Santa Monica.
The expertise of neurosurgical anesthesiologists includes the management of intracranial hypertension, venous air embolism, and brain protection, as well as techniques that facilitate intraoperative brain mapping and neurophysiologic monitoring. Neurosurgical anesthesiology faculty have an important role in facilitating innovation in the care of patients with neurologic disease, and collaborate actively in UCLA Health initiatives to improve patient safety, patient satisfaction, and operating room efficiency
Our faculty in the Division of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology are advancing the understanding of the neuroscience of anesthesia, sleep and consciousness; advancing understanding of adverse neurologic outcomes of non-neurosurgical surgery; and improving clinical care through innovation and evaluation of outcomes. Research within the division spans from bench to bedside.
Basic science research focuses on the mechanisms of general anesthetics at the circuit level, studying how anesthetics change activity patterns within cortical and subcortical circuits and the resulting dynamics of state changes during anesthesia and recovery of consciousness. The cellular biology and pathways of persistent inflammation are other key areas of inquiry.
At the translational level, our faculty’s research focuses on the ways in which recovery of consciousness can go awry, with an emphasis on the intersection of inflammation, delirium, and postoperative cognitive dysfunction. This includes identifying vulnerable patient populations and designing clinically appropriate interventions to mitigate cognitive dysfunction.
Our faculty have played a key role in the development of the American Society of Anesthesiology’s Brain Health Initiative, and we are part of a multicenter consortium dedicated to the study of how intraoperative management affects brain health after anesthesia.
Faculty who contribute to the clinical, teaching, administration, consultation, mentoring, and research activities of the Division of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology include:
