AANA journal
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Craniotomies are a common neurological intervention for intracranial tumor resections. Anesthesia techniques allow surgeons to aggressively and optimally resect neoplastic tissue while sparing normal cerebral tissue. Awake craniotomies are surgical techniques that enable surgeons to avoid damaging normal cerebral regions and allow real-time patient feedback. ⋯ Preoperative evaluation, regional anesthesia, general anesthesia, and monitored anesthesia are necessary to achieve a successful surgical intervention with awake craniotomy. As awake craniotomy gains more popularity, dependable anesthesia techniques remain critical. A discussion follows of the role of anesthesia providers in awake craniotomy during the entire perioperative continuum.
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We studied the current literature on human patient simulation for preparing anesthesia and other healthcare providers for advanced airway management. A systematic review was conducted of articles published between 1990 and 2009 on advanced airway management for patients undergoing anesthesia and patients who are not. The search used 4 electronic databases: Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. ⋯ Those studies included analyses of different types of training and the perceived value of simulated training, and evaluations of equipment. Few studies have analyzed the effects of this modality on trainer skills and patient safety. There is a clear need for well-designed studies to examine these effects.