Sean G. Smith – The Complex Neuro Patient: Strategies to Take Your Practice to the Next Level

Outline

Neuro Assessments: Identifying the RED Flags

• Challenging Mental Status Exams
  • The Patient with Existing Dementia
• The Down-n-Dirty Cranial Nerve Assessment
• Glasgow Coma Scale
• Identifying Red Flags
• Effectively Communicating Changes

Neuro Trauma: The Latest Evidence-Based Strategies

• Blunt & Penetrating Injuries
• Symptom Management for:
  • Hypoxemia
  • Hypotension
  • Prophylactic Hypothermia
  • Nutrition Replacement
  • Normoglycemia
  • Hyperventilation
• Surgical Emergencies & Post-op Care
  • Craniotomy & Craniectomy
• Associated Mental Status & Cognitive Changes

Managing Increased Intracranial Pressure

• Early & Late Symptoms
• Non-invasive vs. Invasive Monitoring
• ICP Waveform Analysis Made Easy

Neuro Pharmacology: New Thoughts on Old Therapies

• Steroids
• Osmotic Diuretics
• Hypertonic Saline
• Anti-Seizure Prophylaxis
• DVT Prophylaxis
• Thrombolytics & Anticoagulation
• Reversal Agents
• Infection Prophylaxis
• Anesthetics, Analgesics & Sedatives

Timely Recognition and Treatment Recommendations for Stroke Syndromes

• Acute Ischemic Stroke
• Intracerebral Hemorrhagic Stroke
• Hemispheric Findings
• NIH Stroke Scale
• Clinical Presentation & Management of Seizures
• Differentiation of Seizure Type
• Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES’s)
• Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP)

Neurodegenerative & Neuromuscular Disease

• The Patient with Alzheimer’s Disease
• Assessing Altered Mental Status
• The Patient with Pre-Existing Dementia
• Tips to Spot Subtle Clues
• Differentiating Diagnosis by Symptom Onset

The Patient with Multiple Sclerosis

• Physical Assessment Challenges
• The Patient with Muscle Weakness & Wasting
• Key Criteria for Assessing Baseline

The Patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Anticipating Complications
• Early Recognition of Life-threatening Symptoms
• What equipment is a MUST have at the bedside?
• Difficult Airway Management

The Patient with Parkinson’s Disease

• Symptom Management Challenges
• Interventions for the Agitated Patient
• Strategies for Effective Patient Compliance
• Team Approach: Role of the Interdisciplinary Team & Family