Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) for Neurosurgical Procedures: Facts You Need to Know About the Anesthetic Management of LITT Procedures.

ABSTRACT

The field of medicine is constantly advancing to improve patient care. As physicians, we must improve our knowledge by listening, reading, and practicing evidence-based medicine. Laser treatment has evolved over the years in many surgical specialties. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), also known as stereotactic laser ablation (SLA), was developed in neurosurgical procedures to treat recurrent or metastatic brain tumors, radiation necrosis, and epilepsy lesions. LITT procedures are advantageous in providing better patient outcomes, decreased hospital length of stay, and reduced total hospital cost. These procedures are performed as a multi-disciplinary approach; this article discusses the different types of LITT systems, indications, contraindications, types of anesthesia, perioperative anesthetic management, safety precautions, complications, recovery during and after LITT procedures, and the future of LITT procedures.