General Principles of Neurosurgical Postoperative Care

Abstract

The goal of postoperative neurosurgical care is to prevent or minimize complications related to anesthesia and the surgical procedure. Careful, frequent neurological assessments by neurology-trained staff are the cornerstone of postoperative neurosurgical care. However, management of systemic complications is an essential task that can help minimize serious neurological consequences. The most important monitor for postoperative neurosurgical patients is the repeated clinical examination. Imaging procedures should be used only when the result of the examination could lead to a change in treatment. In this chapter, we focus on general aspects of neurosurgical patients' management in the postoperative period. Analgesia is not included because pain management will be discussed further in another chapter.