Anesthesia for Patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries

Anesthetic management of the traumatic brain injury patients undergoing non-neurosurgery

This article describes the anesthetic management of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) undergoing non-neurosurgery, primarily targeting intraoperative management for multiple-trauma surgery. The aim of this review is to promote the best clinical practice for patients with TBI in order to prevent secondary brain injury. Based on the current clinical guidelines and evidence, anesthetic selection and administration; maintenance of optimal cerebral perfusion pressure, oxygenation and ventilation; coagulation monitoring; glucose control; and temperature management are addressed. Neurological recovery, which is critical for improving the patient's quality of life, is most important; therefore, future research needs to be focused on this aspect.

Mass casualty, intentional vehicular trauma and anaesthesia

The use of motor vehicles to initiate mass casualty incidents is increasing in frequency and such events are called intentional vehicular assaults. Perpetrators are inspired by a range of terrorist ideologies or have extremist views, criminal intent, or mental health issues. Assaults using a motor vehicle as the principal weapon of attack are easy to launch and require little to no forward planning. This makes them difficult for police and security agencies to predict, prevent, or interdict. With the increasing frequency of intentional vehicular assaults, anaesthesiologists in various settings may be involved in caring for victims and should be engaged in preparing for them. This narrative review examines the literature on vehicle assaults committed around the world and provides an overview of the unique injury patterns and considerations for the pre-hospital, perioperative, and critical care management of victims of these mass casualty events. The article discusses planning, education, and training in an attempt to reduce the mortality and morbidity of intentional vehicular assaults.

Anesthesia for the patient with a recently diagnosed concussion: think about the brain!

Some patients require emergent, urgent, or elective surgery in the time period immediately following diagnosis of concussion. However, changes in brain homeostatic mechanisms following a concussion and concern for secondary brain injury can complicate the decision as to whether or not a surgery should proceed or be postponed. Given the paucity of available evidence, further evaluation of the use of anesthesia in a patient with concussion is warranted. This article summarizes what is currently known about the relevant pathophysiology of concussion, intraoperative anesthesia considerations, and effects of anesthesia on concussion outcomes in an attempt to help providers understand the risks that may accompany surgery and anesthesia in this patient population. While most contraindications to the use of anesthesia in concussed patients are relative, there are nonetheless pathophysiologic changes associated with a concussion that can increase risk of its use. Understanding these changes and anesthetic implications can help providers optimize outcomes in this patient population.