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Neurosurgical Anesthesiology

What is neurosurgical anesthesiology?

Neurosurgical anesthesiology is a type of anesthesiology devoted to the care of people with diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) including the brain and the spine.

Our highly-experienced neuro-anesthesiologists deliver safe anesthesia care to people undergoing surgical and interventional radiology procedures in state-of-the-art facilities at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center. Our surgical facility includes six new operating rooms specifically designed for neurosurgical procedures. Our neuro-anesthesia team works closely with MaineHealth neurosurgeons and spine surgeons on procedures such as:

  • Spine surgery ranging from simple discectomy to complex scoliosis correction
  • Brain tumor surgery (including awake neurosurgery)
  • Surgery to treat vascular abnormalities in the brain such as aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)
  • Implantation of deep brain stimulators
  • Surgery to treat epilepsy and movement disorders
  • Emergency operations for brain and spine injury

We also partner closely with MaineHealth neuro-interventionalists to provide anesthesia care for patients undergoing minimally invasive endovascular procedures including:

  • Brain aneurysm coiling
  • Brain AVM embolization
  • Clot retrieval for acute stroke

Your neuro-anesthesia team will include:

  • A board-certified or board-eligible anesthesiologist
  • A nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or anesthesia resident

Spinal Surgery

Chronic back pain brought Charlie Colbert to MaineHealth Maine Medical Center for a life-changing, spinal procedure. The surgical team, including a neuro-anesthesiologist, collaborated to deliver excellent results .

Anesthesiology Residency

Founded in 1953, the MaineHealth anesthesiology residency program maintains a long tradition of outstanding and rigorous clinical training.

Brain Surgery Innovations

When someone with a brain tumor drinks the medicine 5 ALA, their tumor cells light up under fluorescent light, allowing surgeons to see and remove more of the tumor. MaineHealth Maine Medical Center was one of the first hospitals in the country to use 5 ALA.