Montefiore Einstein Neuroanesthesiology

Montefiore Einstein Neuroanesthesiology specializes in offering a safe perioperative experience for patients undergoing a wide range of neurosurgical and neurointerventional procedures. Our approach to patient care begins prior to the day of surgery when patients are seen in the preoperative clinic. During their preoperative evaluation, any issues that a patient has are addressed to optimize their surgery and recovery. For particularly complex surgeries, our neuroanesthesiologists are available for personal consultation. On the day of surgery, a member of the Neuroanesthesiology team will greet the patient, address any concerns and explain the specifics of the anesthetic plan. During surgery, our team utilizes the latest technologies to ensure patient safety and comfort. We use multimodal analgesia protocols which minimize the need for postoperative narcotics. Our philosophy is that the best patient care is the result of teamwork between a patient’s entire health care team. As such, we collaborate closely with neurosurgeons, interventional neuroradiologists, neurocritical care physicians and neurophysiologists to develop a comprehensive, safe and effective personalized anesthesia plan tailored to each patient. Montefiore Einstein is ranked in the top 1% of all hospitals in the nation for Neurology, Neurosurgery and Orthopedics, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Montefiore Einstein Neuroanesthesiology performs over 1,600 elective and emergency neurosurgical and neurointerventional cases annually. Our world-renowned neuroanesthesia team is an integral part of the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Stroke Center and is available at all times to assist with the care of patients who present for endovascular treatment of a stroke. Using the latest anesthesiology techniques and technologies, we are committed to enhancing patient safety, facilitating comfort and delivering the highest quality of perioperative care to all patients undergoing procedures for neurological conditions.

We offer access to the most advanced anesthesiology techniques and technologies to help improve patient safety and provide the highest quality of care for our patients. Our neuroanesthesiologists use the latest intraoperative brain monitoring and anesthetic techniques. We specialize in using multimodal analgesia, including ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia techniques, to optimize early recovery, minimize opioid use and improve outcomes.

Our Neuroanesthesiology team collaborates with specialists from the Departments of Neurosurgery, Interventional Neuroradiology and Orthopedic Surgery (Spine Surgery) to provide optimal care for a full spectrum of neurosurgeries and neurointerventional procedures, some of which include the following.

Our neuroanesthesiology team also actively participates in the clinical care of acute stroke patients at Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Stroke Center.

We are leading collaborative research and spearheading numerous studies and clinical trials, some of which are funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Our neuroanesthesiologists actively conduct individual and group research in collaboration with our neurosurgery and interventional neuroradiology teams. Our physician-scientists have made substantial contributions including advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology of the neuromuscular junction and the pharmacology of muscle relaxants, narcotics and local anesthetics. We are currently investigating the use of methadone in posterior fossa surgery as well as adjuvant regional techniques such as greater occipital nerve blocks. We are also looking at the effects of erector spinae blockade in pediatric scoliosis surgery.

Some of our previous research projects include the following.

• ESCAPE Trial, a multicenter randomized trial evaluating the effects of Nerinetide, a neuroprotectant infused during therapy for acute ischemic stroke
• FAST (Fast-Acting Sub-Perception-Based Therapy) Study, examining sedation for patients receiving percutaneous spinal cord stimulators
• Gastric ultrasound in acute stroke patients presenting for thrombectomy
• Methadone in craniotomy safety and efficacy, investigating pain control profiles versus historical controls in posterior fossa surgery
• Sphenopalatine ganglion block for middle meningeal artery embolization
• Use of video laryngeal mask devices in neurosurgery