Monitoring of brain function in anesthesia and intensive care.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Despite its obvious importance, the brain is inconsistently the focus of monitoring in anesthesia and intensive care settings. However, there are multiple modalities available to address cerebral monitoring that when acted upon, may improve perioperative outcomes. This review addresses the various brain monitoring options that can be integrated in anesthetic and intensive care practice in order to optimize perioperative outcomes. RECENT
FINDINGS: Although numerous monitoring modalities are available, the level of evidence supporting each application is somewhat limited with few of the available monitors having been subjected to large-scale randomized trials. Despite this, they each may have a potential role to play in providing information that can be integrated to optimize care.
SUMMARY: Using a comprehensive cerebral monitoring strategy may optimize outcomes in anesthetic and intensive care.