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INTRODUCTION

9/25/25 Anesthesiology GR -Stroke Thrombectomy Success: The Role of Anesthetic Strategy and the Expertise of Anesthesiologists

QUIZ

EVALUATION

CERTIFICATE

INTRODUCTION

Credit Hours: CME 0.50

Target Audience:

Anesthesiologists and anesthesiologists-in-training and other anesthesia professionals, nurse anesthetists and anesthesia assistants.

Educational Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Evaluate the clinical impact of pre-notification and immediate anesthesiology availability on patient outcomes during stroke thrombectomy.
  • Compare and contrast outcome measures reported in retrospective observational studies versus randomized controlled trials examining conscious sedation and general anesthesia in stroke thrombectomy.
  • Analyze patient-specific factors influencing the selection of conscious sedation or general anesthesia, including positioning tolerance, movement control, stroke size, and posterior circulation involvement.
  • Assess how the choice of anesthetic technique influences procedural and neurological outcomes in patients undergoing stroke thrombectomy.
  • Formulate evidence-based perioperative management strategies to minimize complications associated with anesthesia during stroke thrombectomy.
  • Explain the role of anesthesia providers in optimizing care and outcomes for patients undergoing stroke thrombectomy.

Suggested Additional Reading & Joint Accreditation Statement - Note: This Accreditation Statement Supersedes All Other Statements:

Suggested Additional Reading:

  • Whalin, Matthew K. MD, PhD*; Sharma, Deepak MBBS, MD, DM†. Answering the Call: The Case for Anesthesiologist-led Care for All Stroke Thrombectomies. Journal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology 35(4):p 349-351, October 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/ANA.0000000000000930
  • McCusker RJ, Chinchilli VM, Fritch CD, Kochar PS, Sharma S. Demonstrating the Value of Routine Anesthesiologist Involvement in Acute Stroke Care: A Retrospective Chart Review. J Neurosurg Anesthesiol. 2023 Oct 1;35(4):406-411. doi: 10.1097/ANA.0000000000000927. Epub 2023 Jul 12. PMID: 37442782.
  • Peng Z, Luo W, Yan Z, Zhang H. The effect of general anesthesia and conscious sedation in endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and trial sequential analysis. Front Neurol. 2023 Dec 8;14:1291211. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1291211. PMID: 38145125; PMCID: PMC10740157.


Joint Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.


Physician (CME)

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.


Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.

Authors:
Sonal Sharma, MBBS, MD — Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed.
No other members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

This activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.