Advances in the field of interventional and diagnostic radiology have resulted in anesthesiologists becoming involved in angiographic suites. In the present study, we evaluated the characteristics of patients and the anesthetic management in an angiographic suite, to determine what factors influenced the patient outcome.

Data pertaining to patients that were anesthetized at an angiographic suite in a university hospital between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2007 were evaluated retrospectively. Specifically, we evaluated the patient characteristics and the types of anesthesia administered, to determine which factors were related to patient outcome.

Sixty-four percent of the patients enrolled in this study were women. Cases involving coiling for unruptured and ruptured aneurysm, embolization for intracranial arteriovenous malformation and fistula, pediatric diagnostic angiography, embolization for extracranial arteriovenous malformation, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation all required the involvement of anesthesiologists. Major postoperatve complications included pneumonia, atelectasis, and hydrocephalus. In addition, GCS, net fluid balance, and anesthesia time had influence on patient outcome.

We evaluated the characteristics of patient groups, procedures, and postoperative complications in an angiographic suite. The results of our analysis revealed that a through understanding of nervous and vascular pathology, as well as knowledge of current interventional radiology, neuroanesthesia and vascular anesthesia techniques is essential for development of safe and effective care.