Anesthesia and Analgesia for Interventional Radiology

To perform procedures in the interventional radiology suite, patient comfort and tolerance must be ensured through appropriate anesthesia and analgesia. Various levels of anesthesia can be utilized to safely accomplish a procedure from local anesthesia and mild sedation to general anesthesia. Depending on patient and procedural factors, different anesthetic plans may be beneficial. Patient factors such as chronic pain, hemodynamic stability, and complex medical problems will likely benefit from anesthesiologist involvement in the procedure. Procedural factors such as specific positioning requirements, following instructions, or invasiveness of the procedure may dictate what level of anesthesia is required, as well. Various anesthetic agents are used for amnesia, anesthesia, analgesia, and muscle relaxation. Understanding patients’ needs and procedural requirements will aid a clinician in performing safe and effective interventional procedures and maintain safety – from preoperative evaluation and monitoring during the procedure to discharging from the recovery room.