Cognitive Aids for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuroanesthetic Emergencies: Consensus Guidelines on Behalf of the Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC) Education Committee

Simulation in Anesthesia for Perioperative Neuroscience: Present and Future

The brain's sensitivity to fluctuations in physiological parameters demands precise control of anesthesia during neurosurgery, which, combined with the complex nature of neurosurgical procedures and potential for adverse outcomes, makes neuroanesthesia challenging. Neuroanesthesiologists, as perioperative physicians, work closely with neurosurgeons, neurologists, neurointensivists, and neuroradiologists to provide care for patients with complex neurological diseases, often dealing with life-threatening conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, brain tumors, cerebral aneurysms, and spinal cord injuries. The use of simulation to practice emergency scenarios may have potential for enhancing competency and skill acquisition amongst neuroanesthesiologists. Simulation models, including high-fidelity manikins, virtual reality, and computer-based simulations, can replicate physiological responses, anatomical structures, and complications associated with neurosurgical procedures. The use of high-fidelity simulation can act as a valuable complement to real-life clinical exposure and training in neuroanesthesia.

Using checklists to improve care in the nonoperating room environment

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

As the number and complexity of cases performed in the nonoperating room environment continue to increase to a higher share of all anesthetic procedures, checklists are needed to ensure staff and patient safety.

RECENT FINDINGS

Providing anesthesia care in the nonoperating room environment poses specific challenges. Closed claims data base analysis shows a higher morbidity and mortality in this setting. This is driven by the location-related challenges, and critical patients undergoing minimally invasive procedures, as well as a higher percentage of emergency and after-hours procedures. Although adequate case preparation and maintaining the same standard of care as in the main operating room, establishing protocols and checklists for procedures in nonoperating room locations has emerged as a sound strategy in improving care and safety.

SUMMARY

Anesthesia in the nonoperating room environment is becoming an increasing share of total anesthesia cases. Establishing protocols and implementing site-specific checklists is emerging as a strategy in improving care in the environment of nonoperating room.

VIDEO ABSTRACT

http://links.lww.com/COAN/A89 .

Cognitive Aids in the Management of Critical Events

Critical events are rare and stressful. These properties make reliance on memory for clinical management highly susceptible to failure. In the past 10 to 20 years, health care has begun to accept the experience of aviation and other high-reliability organizations in addressing failure to rescue from these events through a combination of practice through simulation and the introduction of cognitive aids, known as checklists or emergency manuals. Cognitive aids have a persuasive body of evidence from simulation studies to establish their value in improving clinician performance. However, their introduction to practice is more complex than distribution of the tools.

Effect of 5 different cervical collars on optic nerve sheath diameter: A randomized crossover trial

BACKGROUND

There is considerable evidence that prolonged use of cervical collars potentially cause detrimental effects including increase in optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) among healthy volunteers. Different types of cervical collars immobilize cervical spine variably well and may presumably differently influence the venous compression and hence the intracranial pressure. We therefore aimed to evaluate the influence of cervical spine immobilization with 5 different types of cervical collars on ONSD measured noninvasively by ultrasound on healthy volunteers.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized crossover trial including 60 adult healthy volunteers. Control assessment of the optic nerve sheath thickness was performed in both sagittal and transverse planes. Patient was placed supine on a transport stretcher, cervical collar was placed, and ONSD measurement was performed after 5 and 20 minutes. During the next days, the procedure was repeated with random allocation of participants and random cervical collar.

RESULTS

Sixty healthy volunteers were included in our study. ONSD left diameter [mm] for the baseline was 3.8 [interquartile range (IQR): 3.65-3.93)] mm. Using AMBU after 5 min, ONSD was changed up to 4.505 (IQR 4.285-4.61; P < .001) mm. The largest change at 5 minutes and 20 minutes was using Philly 4.73 (IQR: 4.49-4.895; P < .001) and 4.925 (IQR: 4.65-5.06; P < .001), respectively. Necklite reported the lower change in ONSD: 3.92 (IQR: 3.795-4; P = 1.0) mm in 5 minutes and 3.995 (IQR: 3.875 - 4.1; P = 1.0) mm in 20 minutes. ONSD right diameter [mm] for the baseline was 3.8 (IQR 3.675-3.9) mm. Using AMBU after 5 minutes, ONSD was changed up to 4.5 (IQR 4.21-4.6) mm. The largest change at 5 minutes and 20 minutes was using Philly 4.705 (IQR 4.455-4.9) and 4.93 (IQR 4.645-5.075), respectively. Necklite reported the lower change in ONSD -33.9 (IQR 3.795-3.99) mm in 5 minutes and 3.995 (IQR 3.86-4.09) mm in 20 minutes.

CONCLUSION

We report significant increase of ONSD from the baseline after cervical collar placement among healthy volunteers at 5 minutes and 20 minutes interval. In addition, no significant difference was noted between ONSD measurements at 5 and 20 minutes. Clinicians should take proactive steps to assess the actual need of cervical collar case by case basis. Nonetheless, when needed, Necklite moldable neck brace seems to be a reasonable option.Registration: ClinicalTrials database (www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03609879).

Neuroanesthesiology Update

This review is intended to provide a summary of the literature pertaining to the perioperative care of neurosurgical patients and patients with neurological diseases. General topics addressed in this review include general neurosurgical considerations, stroke, neurological monitoring, and perioperative disorders of cognitive function.