Surgery in the patient with neurologic disease.
Patients with neurologic disease who require surgery present distinct issues and challenges for the medical consultant. Although it is not possible to offer a unified approach to neurologic patients, the primary care consultant should understand the clinical issues that are common to these patients, and the individual considerations necessitated by the nature of the neurologic disorder and the clinical characteristics of the patient. The preoperative evaluation combines elements of literature evidence on risk assessment with a thorough understanding of the planned procedure and local practice patterns, and clinical judgment as to the estimated risk-benefit ratio. Perioperative management necessitates attention to many general principles of perioperative care, such as awareness of the potential for cardiopulmonary complications and the need for DVT prophylaxis. In addition, there are management issues for neurologic patients, such as blood pressure control and evaluation of hyponatremia, which may differ from other surgical patients. In these circumstances, the interaction of the neurologic condition with the medical condition and the implications of treatment on the underlying neurologic process also need to be considered.
Lefevre
Frank
F
Division of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, 675 North Saint Clair, 18-200, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. f-lefevre@northwestern.edu
Woolger
Judi M
JM
D003693:Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control