wk 6 brain/SC/ANS Flashcards
- Question: Scenario: A 55-year-old patient with a history of hypertension is undergoing craniotomy for tumor resection. Intraoperatively, the patient’s mean arterial pressure (MAP) drops to 60 mm Hg, and the intracranial pressure (ICP) is noted to be 20 mm Hg. Question: What is the cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) in this patient, and what is the expected physiological response?
40mmHg, cerebral ischemia
- Question: Scenario: A patient with traumatic brain injury (TBI) exhibits elevated ICP. The anesthetic plan includes the use of propofol for its cerebral effects. Question: What is the primary effect of propofol on cerebral physiology in this context?
Propofol reduces CBF, CBV, and ICP due to cerebral vasoconstriction
- Question: Scenario: During neurosurgery, a patient is intentionally hyperventilated to achieve a PaCO2 of 30 mm Hg. Question: How does acute hypocapnia affect cerebral blood flow (CBF) and intracranial pressure (ICP)?
Hypocapnia causes vasoconstriction, which reduces cerebral blood flow and reduces ICP
- Question: A 60-year-old patient with a history of chronic hypertension is undergoing a craniotomy. What is the expected alteration in cerebral autoregulation?
HTN causes the autoregulation curve to shift to the right, so the pressure of dependence of CPP occurs at a higher CPP (upper & lower limit)
- Question: During a neurosurgical procedure, a patient develops sudden hypertension and bradycardia. This response is most likely due to:
cushing’s reflex (Response to elevated ICP, reflex to brain ischemia. triad: HTN (wide PP), irregluar respiration, bradycardia)
- Question: A patient with a head injury shows signs of uncal herniation. The initial anesthetic management should focus on:
maintain CPP
(Methods to decrease ICP
Elevate head, Hyperventilation (achieve PaCO2 of 30-35), CSF drainage, Administration of hyperosmotic drugs, diuretics, corticosteroids, cerebral vasoconstricting anesthetics (like propofol), surgical decompression)
- A 45-year-old patient with a history of brain tumor presents with signs of increased ICP. Which of the following is the most likely initial compensatory mechanism the body employs to maintain cerebral perfusion in the face of rising ICP?
Compensatory CSF displacement
(Monro-Kellie hypothesis: changes in 1 compartment are compensated by changes in another until a certain point where small changes have profound effect on ICP)
- In a patient with transtentorial herniation, which clinical sign would most likely be observed first due to its pathophysiological mechanism?
ipsilateral oculomotor dysfunction
(also causes Altered LOC, defects in gaze & afferent ocular reflexes, hemodynamic & respiratory compromise, and death)
- Question: A patient with increased ICP shows signs of nausea, vomiting, and papilledema. These symptoms are most directly related to:
nonspecific signs of ICP ???
- Question: Which type of Lundberg wave is indicative of the most severe intracranial pathology and is associated with poor outcomes?
A-wave: plateau-waves w/ abrupt increases in ICP from 20-100mmHg lasting up to 20min
- In managing a patient with sustained increased ICP, why is hyperventilation to maintain PaCO2 near 30 to 35 mm Hg recommended over more aggressive hyperventilation?
cause other adverse effects systemically (cerebral ischemia & stroke bc reduced CBF can compromise perfusion to areas that are already ischemic)
-effects of hyperventilation only last 6 hours. Risk for rebound increase in ICP after.
- A patient with increased ICP is receiving mannitol. Which of the following is a critical consideration in its administration?
If serum osmolarity is > 320mOsm/L, do NOT give any more mannitol
- In a patient with elevated ICP following traumatic brain injury, why are corticosteroids generally not recommended?
NOT effective for nonvasogenic edema
- A 55-year-old male with a chronic C5 spinal cord injury is scheduled for elective surgery. Which anesthetic management consideration is paramount due to his level of injury?
Monitor for autonomic hyperreflexia (common w injury above T6)
- Propofol is used in the management of increased ICP. Its effectiveness in reducing ICP is primarily due to its ability to:
reduce CMRO2
- Question: A patient with Friedreich ataxia is undergoing spinal surgery. What anesthetic consideration is most critical due to the associated cardiomyopathy?
use low-dose inotropic support (CM + anesthetics that are negative inotropes = risk of compromise)
- In a patient with spontaneous intracranial hypotension presenting for surgery to repair a CSF leak, what is the most significant anesthetic consideration?
Risk for rebound intracranial HTN after sx repair requiring therapeutic LP
- Question: A 55-year-old patient with a history of post-polio syndrome is scheduled for elective surgery. Which of the following anesthetic considerations is essential due to the patient’s condition?
Sensitive to non-depolarizing NMBDs, avoid high doses
(extreme sensitivity to sedative effects of anesthesia & delayed awakening from GA)
- Question: A 25-year-old patient with a newly diagnosed low-grade astrocytoma is scheduled for a surgical resection. The patient has been experiencing new-onset seizures. What is the most important anesthetic consideration for this patient?
Avoid meds that lower the seizure threshold
- Question: A patient with a high spinal cord injury presents for surgery. Which anesthetic technique would be most appropriate to prevent autonomic hyperreflexia?
High spinal anesthesia.
- Question: A patient with glioblastoma multiforme has undergone surgical debulking. Which postoperative strategy is most important for this patient?
Strict BP control to avoid hemorrhagic complication
- Question: When planning anesthesia for a patient with ALS, which of the following considerations is most pertinent due to the risk of hyperkalemia?
No succ
- Question: During the postoperative management of a patient who has undergone evacuation of a subdural hematoma, which of the following blood pressure targets is MOST appropriate to prevent rebleeding?
<140
- Question: For a patient with a known history of syringomyelia, which of the following anesthetic plans should be carefully considered due to potential impaired autonomic regulation?
Continuous epidural anesthesia