Neurological anaesthesia - don't let it blow your mind!
Tracks
Stream Three - Eureka 3
| Friday, March 21, 2025 |
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
| Eureka 3 |
Overview
Marcia Fletcher
Speaker
Marcia Fletcher
The Pink Stethoscope
Neurological anaesthesia - don't let it blow your mind!
Abstract
A perfect harmony exists between the brain, cerebral spinal fluid and the blood that perfuses them both. That harmony remains unless intracranial pressure increases above what we consider normal range. We may be asked to anesthetize patients with known or suspected elevations in intracranial pressure for stabilization, diagnostics, or even a craniotomy. This lecture will take a deep dive into the critical realm of increased intracranial pressure, discussing the likely patients to exhibit increased cranial pressures and the pathophysiology expected as cranial pressure rises. A detailed description of the Cushings triad mechanism is discussed in detail, as well as the multiple ways we can work to decrease intracranial pressure including premedication, induction and maintenance choices in these extreme patients.
Biography
Marcia is a registered veterinary nurse specialist and an international speaker. Having 20 years’ experience in veterinary anaesthesia, she started her career working for the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in New Zealand and was the senior anaesthesia nurse there for over 16 years. In 2011 she became New Zealand’s first Veterinary Technician Specialist in Anaesthesia and Analgesia. She has been awarded New Zealand’s “Vet Nurse of the Year”, and several teaching awards including “Teacher of the Year”. Marcia is also a RECOVER certified instructor of both basic and advanced CPR. In 2020 Marcia left the university teaching life and created The Pink Stethoscope, her platform to elevate veterinary anaesthesia within the entire veterinary community. Through The Pink Stethoscope she independently provides postgraduate veterinary anaesthesia education, training, webinars and consultations both nationally and internationally. Marcia loves all aspects of veterinary anaesthesia teaching. Her passion has always been instilling anaesthesia knowledge to the greater veterinary profession - to make a somewhat challenging subject less stressful, and ultimately to empower veterinary professionals to continue their anaesthesia learning journey. Away from work Marcia is a busy kiwi mum, enjoying her home life with her husband, daughter, son, and very special “fur-daughter” Minnie the tuxedo cat.
