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Surgery – Surgery in Neurological Disease
Surgery for neurological illness.
Cerebrovascular accidents (strokes) Anaesthetic drugs can disrupt cerebrovascular autoregulation, increasing the risk of re-infarction or infarction extension during ischemic episodes. Autoregulation is restored after around 6 weeks. • Haemorrhagic infarctions have a low risk of continued bleeding, especially with thromboprophylaxis. Strategies for reducing risk • Postpone all non-essential surgeries for 6 weeks after infarctions, particularly ischemic ones. • Patients with recent hemorrhagic events may not require thromboprophylaxis. • Control blood pressure throughout perioperative period to prevent hypotension and hypertension and stabilize cerebral blood flow. • Avoid placing the patient's head down on the operating table, as this can increase cerebral venous pressure.
Epilepsy
Paroxysmal neuronal discharge in different parts of the brain can disrupt awareness, movement, and sensory perception. Cerebral space-occupying lesions, uraemia, cerebral oedema, medication toxicity, and hypercalcaemia can all elicit symptoms similar to epilepsy. For patients with known epilepsy, the following measures are recommended. • Determine normal seizure frequency, severity, and prodrome characteristics. • Continue anticonvulsant medication during NBM and immediately after surgery. • If not possible, consult with an anesthetist or neurologist to determine the best bridging regime. • 0 Phenytoin interacts with several medicines used during the perioperative period. • Increase elimination of prednisone, warfarin, and lidocaine. Increase Phenytoin absoption orally through amiodarone, fluconazole, omeprazole, and paroxetine but reduced through antacids with magnesium, calcium, and aluminum and enteral feeding.
Myasthenia gravis
This autoimmune disease causes muscle weakness due to inadequate acetylcholine (ACh) receptors. The disease typically affects young adults and causes symptoms such as ptosis and diplopia, as well as weakness in the neck, limbs, and trunk. Patients may seek thymectomy as a treatment or as an unplanned procedure. Management involves the following: • Continue regular medication. Consider elective post-operative breathing for significant thoracic or upper abdominal surgery, or if the patient has a vital capacity of less than 2L. Consult with an anaesthetist and the ICU. If ventilation is extended after surgery, a tracheostomy may be necessary. Discuss this with the patient during the consent process. • Monitor for respiratory failure after surgery, which could be caused by muscle weakness. Precipitants include hypokalemia, infection, over- or under-treatment, and emotional or physical exertion.
Surgery for neurological illness.
Cerebrovascular accidents (strokes) Anaesthetic drugs can disrupt cerebrovascular autoregulation, increasing the risk of re-infarction or infarction extension during ischemic episodes. Autoregulation is restored after around 6 weeks. • Haemorrhagic infarctions have a low risk of continued bleeding, especially with thromboprophylaxis. Strategies for reducing risk • Postpone all non-essential surgeries for 6 weeks after infarctions, particularly ischemic ones. • Patients with recent hemorrhagic events may not require thromboprophylaxis. • Control blood pressure throughout perioperative period to prevent hypotension and hypertension and stabilize cerebral blood flow. • Avoid placing the patient's head down on the operating table, as this can increase cerebral venous pressure.
Epilepsy
Paroxysmal neuronal discharge in different parts of the brain can disrupt awareness, movement, and sensory perception. Cerebral space-occupying lesions, uraemia, cerebral oedema, medication toxicity, and hypercalcaemia can all elicit symptoms similar to epilepsy. For patients with known epilepsy, the following measures are recommended. • Determine normal seizure frequency, severity, and prodrome characteristics. • Continue anticonvulsant medication during NBM and immediately after surgery. • If not possible, consult with an anesthetist or neurologist to determine the best bridging regime. • 0 Phenytoin interacts with several medicines used during the perioperative period. • Increase elimination of prednisone, warfarin, and lidocaine. Increase Phenytoin absoption orally through amiodarone, fluconazole, omeprazole, and paroxetine but reduced through antacids with magnesium, calcium, and aluminum and enteral feeding.
Myasthenia gravis
This autoimmune disease causes muscle weakness due to inadequate acetylcholine (ACh) receptors. The disease typically affects young adults and causes symptoms such as ptosis and diplopia, as well as weakness in the neck, limbs, and trunk. Patients may seek thymectomy as a treatment or as an unplanned procedure. Management involves the following: • Continue regular medication. Consider elective post-operative breathing for significant thoracic or upper abdominal surgery, or if the patient has a vital capacity of less than 2L. Consult with an anaesthetist and the ICU. If ventilation is extended after surgery, a tracheostomy may be necessary. Discuss this with the patient during the consent process. • Monitor for respiratory failure after surgery, which could be caused by muscle weakness. Precipitants include hypokalemia, infection, over- or under-treatment, and emotional or physical exertion.
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