Preoperative evaluation of the adult neurosurgical patient.

The purpose of this chapter is to provide the anesthesiologist with a focused review of the information needed to rationally approach the preoperative evaluation of the neurosurgical patient. The anesthesia preoperative assessment is a neuromedical evaluation of the patient's current condition integrated with the anesthesiologist's knowledge of the potential clinical and operative events that may occur. The neurosurgical patient presents the anesthesiologist with significant clinical challenges in providing the most appropriate care and the best outcome possible. The foundation of this challenge begins with the anesthesia preoperative evaluation.