Anaesthesia for elective interventional vascular radiology

Interventional vascular radiology is a rapidly expanding field, but can broadly be split into embolization and stent-grafting techniques. Frequently these can be performed percutaneously with local anaesthetic infiltration and do not require the involvement of an anaesthetist. Some procedures, particularly endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) require surgical access to the vasculature, necessitating anaesthesia. Solid organ embolization can be painful and patients for haemorrhage control may also require our input to manage ongoing resuscitation and stabilization. Each procedure is different and communication and team working is essential to understand the planned procedure and the requirements for anaesthesia and operating conditions. This article will discuss the different procedures performed (excluding neurological and cardiological interventions) with a focus on EVAR, and their anaesthetic implications.