Anesthetic considerations for outpatient interventional radiology procedures for cancer patients

Interventional radiology (IR) has emerged as a vital component of cancer care, offering minimally invasive procedures for diagnosis, therapy, and palliation. The increasing safety and efficacy of these procedures have led to a surge in their adoption, including in nonoperating room anesthesia and outpatient settings.

Cancer patients increasingly present with complex medical histories for outpatient IR procedures and require specialized anesthetic care. The decision to perform an IR procedure in an outpatient setting should be based on careful evaluation of patient and procedure factors as well as facility resources, which varies among outpatient hospital settings, office-based labs, and ambulatory surgery centers. Oftentimes, oncology patients undergo repeated or multiple procedures at various points in their diagnostic and treatment course.

We review the types of settings and cases and the patient selection and anesthetic considerations for outpatient IR procedures in cancer patients. By understanding the unique challenges posed by this patient population, including their increased comorbidity burden, potential treatment-related complications, and the need for tailored anesthetic techniques, anesthesia providers can optimize patient care and minimize perioperative risks.