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Special Interest
Abstract Submission
Daniel King, MNA, CRNA
Staff Nurse Anesthetist
Steward Medical Group
Boston, Massachusetts
Concussions impact the normal functioning of the autonomic nervous system, glucose metabolism, impair cerebral autoregulation to PaCO2, and produce abnormal variances in myogenic and vagal tone. Because anesthesia also impacts these same processes, it is vital to delineate the best practice in the perioperative period to minimize additional damage to concussed brain. The presentation will examine current literature and provide relevant information for clinical practice, addressing the following questions:
1. What populations are at a higher risk for an undiagnosed concussion?
2. Are there perioperative assessments that can confirm the presence of concussion at baseline neurological assessment?
3. When caring for patients with a diagnosed concussion injury, are there best practices for monitoring the response to anesthesia interventions?
4. What additional research is needed to guide practice?