Abstract
Postoperative care of patients after having undergone craniotomy or craniectomy is common in the surgical ICU. It is vital for a modern surgical intensivist to have an understanding of indications for craniotomies and craniectomies, to have basic understanding of how the procedures are performed, and what to expect postop. This includes knowing indications for antibiotic use, drain care, seizure prophylaxis, and anticoagulation. Also, it is important to develop good neurological exam skills and have an understanding of the tiered approach to treating elevated intracranial pressures. Finally a basic understanding of common complications will undoubtedly aid in caring for these complex patients.
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Moshkovsky, F., Mercante, M., Cipolle, M. (2018). Care of the Postop Craniectomy/Craniotomy Patient. In: Salim, A., Brown, C., Inaba, K., Martin, M. (eds) Surgical Critical Care Therapy . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71712-8_8
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