Neuroanesthesiology » Department of Anesthesiology » College of Medicine

The Neuroanesthesiology Division in the UF Department of Anesthesiology staffs nine specialized operating rooms specifically designed for neurosurgical and orthopedic spine procedures. Among these, we have two hybrid endovascular suites and rooms equipped with intraoperative MRI capabilities. Additionally, we are a certified comprehensive stroke center.

Annually, we serve approximately 5,000 patients undergoing a diverse range of procedures. At the heart of our practice lies a commitment to advancing patient outcomes and contributing to the field of neuroanesthesiology. Our clinical interests and research endeavors span various areas related to the brain and spinal cord, including:

Neuroprotection strategies
Autoregulation
Advanced airway management
Complex spine enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS)
Venous air embolism
Neurophysiologic monitoring
Neuroprotection and neurotoxicity

Awake craniotomy
Intracranial pressure management
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Anesthetic mechanisms of action
Embolic and hemorrhagic stroke
Perioperative fluid management
Postoperative urinary dysfunction
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction

A one-year, ICPNT accredited fellowship in neuroanesthesiology is offered.

Specialized Procedures Include

Brain tumors: open resection, stereotactic biopsy, acoustic neuromas, pituitary tumors.
Epilepsy Surgery
Neurovascular Surgery: arteriovenous malformation resection, aneurysm clipping, carotid endarterectomy, cerebral cavernous malformation surgery, EC-IC bypass for complex brain aneurysm, and Moyamoya disease.
Endovascular Procedures: thrombectomy for treatment of acute ischemic stroke, coiling of aneurysms, embolization of arteriovenous malformations, tumors, vein of Galen malformations, intracranial and extracranial angioplasty and stent placement, aneurysm coiling and stenting, balloon angioplasty, diagnostic angiography.
Spine: herniated disk, stenosis, deformity, vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty for spinal compression fracture, resection of spinal arteriovenous malformation, spinal trauma. Hemifacial Spasm and Trigeminal Neuralgia: microvascular decompression, radiofrequency ablation.
Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia and obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as novel applications for this technique such as the treatment of Tourette’s syndrome, non-medication-responsive gait disorders and depression.
Pediatric Neurosurgery: brain and spine tumors, Chiari malformation, craniosynostosis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, scoliosis.

Faculty

Lauren C Berkow MD, FASA

Professor Of Anesthesiology; Chief, Division Of Neuroanesthesia; Director Of Anesthesia Supplies And Equipment

lberkow@anest.ufl.edu

Sebastián Gatica-Moris MD

Assistant Professor Of Anesthesiology

sgatica@ufl.edu

John A Heinbockel MD, MSEE

Assistant Professor Of Anesthesiology

j.heinbockel@ufl.edu

Anatoly E Martynyuk PhD

Professor Of Anesthesiology And Neuroscience

amartynyuk@anest.ufl.edu

Steven A Robicsek MD, PhD

Professor of Anesthesiology, Neurosurgery & Neuroscience

robicsek@ufl.edu

Gevalin Srisooksai MD

Assistant Professor Of Anesthesiology

gsrisooksai@anest.ufl.edu

Peggy A White MD

Associate Professor Of Anesthesiology; Director, Multidisciplinary Adult Critical Care Medicine Fellowship

pmann@anest.ufl.edu

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM)

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) involves using electrophysiological techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEP), somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) and auditory evoked potentials to assess the functional integrity of specific neural structures (such as nerves, spinal cord, and neural pathways) during surgery.

Email ep@anest.ufl.edu for more information.

Primary Objectives of IONM

Risk Reduction

By monitoring neural activity in real-time, IONM helps minimize the risk of intraoperative damage to the nervous system.

Guidance

It provides valuable functional guidance to both the surgeon and the anesthesiologist when the nervous system is vulnerable during surgical procedures.

Common surgical specialties that utilize intraoperative neuromonitoring include neurosurgery, vascular surgery, orthopedic spine, and otolaryngology.

Medical Director of Intraoperative Electrophysiology

Steven Robicsek, M.D., Ph.D.

srobicsek@anest.ufl.edu

UF Health Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Technicians

Linda Moss, IOM Technologist

LMoss@anest.ufl.edu

Steve Finlay, R.EEG T., CNIM, IOM/EEG Tech Specialist III

finsla@shands.ufl.edu

Khem Banjara, BBS, R.EEG T., IOM/EEG Tech Specialist

banjak@shands.ufl.edu

Department of Anesthesiology Divisions