Craniotomies are performed for patients with intracerebral tumors, vascular lesions, and functional neurological problems such as epilepsy and movement disorders involving basal ganglia disease. The epilepsy center at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center refers many patients for surgery. Because of this, we provide anesthesia for many patients with epilepsy. The Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center has a long tradition as a center of excellence in the management of patients with vascular lesions. We provide anesthesia for patients with arteriovenous malformations, cerebral aneurysms, and carotid artery stenosis coming for surgery.
Spine surgery represents another area of strength.
Besides the routine spinal discectomies, we also provide anesthesia for patients having more complicated spinal procedures requiring spinal stabilization. Many of these involve intraoperative electrophysiologic monitoring. Our invasive neuroradiology department is very active. The neuroradiologists perform neuroradiographic procedures primarily for intracerebral or spinal vascular lesions. These include arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms, and carotid artery stenosis.