Management of bleeding in neuroanesthesia and neurointensive care

Intracranial surgical interventions and spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhages challange neuroanesthesia and neurocritical care. First, the brain is the most sensitive organ to tissue hypoxia in the case of severe intraoperative bleedings and, second, a growing hemorrhage within the closed intracranial space may result in a ciritcal elevation of intracranial pressure resulting in an imminent life danger. The authors summerize the potential treatment strategies during neuroanesthesia and neurocritical care. Perioperative organ-specific optimalization of hemoglobin concentration, thrombocyte count and fibrinogen concentrations are key elements in elective neurosurgical interventions. Prior antithrombotic and anticoagulant treatment may indicate targeted pharmacological optimalization and treatment that should be based on laboratory diagnosis. In intracerebral hemorrhages, treatment strategy should be based on the etiology and laboratory diagnostics and targeted pharmacological treatment is preferable. Orv Hetil. 2020; 161(37): 1574-1578.