Non-operating Room Anesthesia

Non-operating room anesthesia (NORA) consists of any anesthetic performed outside of the traditional operating room setting. Within the past 10 years, hospital systems have seen a steady rise in the proportion of cases performed outside of the operating room which has mirrored an aging, more medically complex patient population. Furthermore, with the proliferation of NORA has come a wider breadth of cases with unique challenges and anesthetic implications. Specialties and locations that are typically considered part of NORA include endoscopy, electrophysiology, diagnostic and interventional radiology, interventional pulmonology, or electroconvulsive therapy suites. Each specialty has their own procedures, jargon, and nuances which may not be immediately clear to the anesthesiologist. These factors are often complicated by distance, whether physically from patients (such as during an MRI scan) or more globally from anesthetic colleagues farther away in the operating room suites. Therefore, clear communication, planning, and preparation for emergencies are paramount when performing an anesthetic in the non-operating room setting.