Perioperative and Anesthetic Considerations for Patients with Degenerative Spine Disease

The demand for spine surgery has dramatically increased over the last 2 decades. As the population ages and surgical and anesthetic techniques advance, the perioperative care of spine surgery patients poses challenges to anesthesiologists. Perioperative outcomes in terms of a decrease in complication rates and total health care expenditures have directed perioperative care to focus on enhanced recovery after surgery protocols, which many institutions have adopted. The role of anesthesiologists in the care of patients undergoing spine surgery is expanding beyond intraoperative care; consequently, a multidisciplinary approach is the best direction for optimal patient care.