Bøger af Eelco F. M. Wijdicks

"The practice of neurocritical care is sobering in one way and exhilarating in another. Perhaps the best demonstration of what we do,can do or should do to tip the scale is already in the Emergency Department, because acute neurologic disease typically is there seen first. There are numerous acute neurologic problems seen every day and so for emergency physicians the recognition of a serious neurologic disease must be an essential part of their expertise. Be that as it may, neurologists (and neurointensivists) are consulted freely because there is a sense that acute neurologic disease will worsen (and sometimes very quickly). In some patients the presenting emergency is already critical and unquestionably life-threatening. Acute neurologic conditions can appear anywhere in the hospital, but this chapter introduces the emergency department (ED), with all its complexities, as seen from a neurologist's perspective."

This indispensable title rethinks the neurologic examination in a format tailored, modified, and specialized for neurocritical illness. Generously illustrated, this book provides a detailed clinical assessment of the acutely ill neurologic patient. It explains why certain neurologic signs appear and provides fundamentals of localization. Certain situations demand certain structured examinations. Eventually, all information has to be integrated logically. Different examination techniques may be needed. Recognition of deterioration and increased vigilance with important mimickers and confounders are part of our professional fabric. Other necessary skills include predicting a clinical course and outcome, coordinating effective transfers of unstable patients, and communicating expected clinical changes. Neurologists traditionally have carefully considered the examination findings before acting and localized findings before ordering tests; these heuristics must remain. An indispensable title designed for all learners, Examining Neurocritical Patients preserves the beauty of a comprehensive clinical neurologic examination and serves as a high-yield master class for every health care professional tasked with clinical assessment of a neurocritically ill patient.

Caring for a loved one in a coma is a distressing time, full of many questions, and often, not as many answers. Guide to a Comatose Patient is a first-of-its-kind book that steps into the shoes of the neurologist, to show the perspective of the staff caring for their loved ones - what worries us, how we think and intervene, what we can and cannot predict, and what we know as a certainty.In our hospital ICUs, there are more than a dozen comatose patients at any given point of time. Causes of coma can range from drug-induced coma-in which medications are used to calm the patient and allow the ventilator to work properly-to coma due to intoxication and coma related to a brain injury. No matter the reason, it can be a distressing time for loved ones.Guide to a Comatose Patient is a helpful guide for any family member or loved one confronted with coma. Author Eelco F. M. Wijdicks, M.D., Ph.D., a leading neurologist and attending neurointensivist at Mayo Clinic, begins each chapter by sharing helpful anecdotes from a career spanning four decades, before diving into the answers to commonly asked questions, such as: · What are the causes of coma?· When will the patient wake up and recover?· When is no recovery expected?· When should we consider organ donation?· What are the rates of survival?While there are many books on families' experiences with acute traumatic brain injury and coma, Dr. Wijdicks offers an unusually candid conversation that allows a peek inside the minds of the doctors caring for your loved one. Having had many experiences talking to families having to make difficult decisions at a very difficult time, Dr. Wijdicks's message is hopeful while remaining grounded in reality-a reality in which facts must dictate actions.Guide to a Comatose Patient provides important information so that families better understand treatment options, but most importantly, the book offers an open dialogue and optimal transparency to help provide hope and healing through times of grief.

Simulation in Acute Neurology is a textbook on the execution of a simulation-based educational program in the management of acute neurologic emergencies. Simulation in Acute Neurology has practical value because it contains detailed descriptions of our simulation scenarios. The foundation of this book is our experience with neurosimulation?and it has been a very good one. Part I provides an overview of the principles of simulation in medicine and examines the many unique opportunities simulation provides as an educational tool. Barriers to simulating neurologic emergencies are also discussed. Simulation allows a physician-in-training to be observed directly as he or she evaluates and manages acute neurologic disease. Part II is the core of the book. Fifteen acute neurologic emergencies, including complex neuroethical quandaries, are presented in detail, step by step, decision by decision, error after error. Each chapter in this section starts with an explanation of the essence of the discussed neuroemergency (THE PROBLEM BEFORE US), followed by a description of the scenario itself (THE PRESENTING CLINICAL PROBLEM), how scenarios can be adjusted to different types of learners (ADAPTING THE SCENARIO), and ends with a discussion of topics for feedback, which are generally focused around errors and pitfalls (DEBRIEFING). To show the flow of scenarios, we created two additional main headings: (THE IDEAL LEARNER) and (THE NOT-SO IDEAL LEARNER).Part I provides an overview of the principles of simulation in medicine and examines the many unique opportunities simulation provides as an educational tool. Barriers to simulating neurologic emergencies are also discussed. Simulation allows a physician-in-training to be observed directly as he or she evaluates and manages acute neurologic disease. Part II is the core of the book. Fifteen acute neurologic emergencies, including complex neuroethical quandaries, are presented in detail, step by step, decision by decision, error after error. Each chapter in this section starts with an explanation of the essence of the discussed neuroemergency (THE PROBLEM BEFORE US), followed by a description of the scenario itself (THE PRESENTING CLINICAL PROBLEM), how scenarios can be adjusted to different types of learners (ADAPTING THE SCENARIO), and ends with a discussion of topics for feedback, which are generally focused around errors and pitfalls (DEBRIEFING). To show the flow of scenarios, we created two additional main headings: (THE IDEAL LEARNER) and (THE NOT-SO IDEAL LEARNER).