INTERVENTION NEURORADIOLOGY - DRUG-THERAP Y, MONITORING AND FUNCTION-TESTS

Specilized monitoring as well as function tests and drug therapy play an ever growing role in neuroradiological procedures. The particular r oute of administration and the territories involved in neuroradiology require special precautions. Anaesthesia must enable the operators to monitor the central nervous system since the patients must remain tota lly immobilized for several hours. Catheterization is made safe by car eful asepsia and antibiotic prophylaxy and by preventing embolic event s, particularly in neuro-cervico-facial interventions where an anticoa gulant protocol is important. Arterial spasms can be prevented or cure d with calcium inhibitors. The safety of the procedure itself is guara nteed by various function tests including sensitivity to ischaemia usi ng anaesthesic barbiturates, controlled clampings or the lidocaine tes t. Undesirable effects of both emboli (e.g. toxicity of cyanocrylate g lue) and embolization (e.g. subsequent venous thrombosis) can be preve nted by adapted anti-inflammatory drugs. Herein, we describe the routi ne monitoring conditions, drugs prescribed and function tests performe d at the Therapeutic Angiography Department of the Lariboisiere Hospit al, Paris.