title: Postoperative neurologic assessment and management of the cardiac surgical patient.
abstract: The neurologic evaluation of patients in the immediate postoperative period and postanesthetic state is unique and challenging. Neurologic assessment is complicated by the lingering residual effects of anesthetics as well as by the effects of narcotic analgesics, anxiolytics, and muscle relaxants, especially in ventilated patients. In this review we examine the suspected causes, clinical manifestations, diagnostic options, and intervention schemes for the common neurologic syndromes seen after cardiac operations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283, USA.
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Stecker
mesh_terms: D001928:Brain Diseases, Metabolic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy