Logical decision-making regarding the nature and timing of any surgical dose (ie, physiologic burden of trauma that any surgical procedure imposes) is crucial for positive patient outcomes, particularly in elective cases presented for chronic conditions, in which chronic pathology and the patient’s compensatory biology may narrow the window during which surgery can achieve substantial improvements in function. In emergent cases, surgical goals are typically clear, but the patient’s systemic status may dictate a highly efficient, exact, and sensitive approach to minimize the morbidity inherent in the superimposition of surgical trauma and anesthesia on an already compromised system.
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Dr. Hayes walks through the four challenging cases from the quiz, offering her expert advice.