Neurosurgical Anesthesiology

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.