Sage Neuroscience and Neurology

Wonderful topics from Experts to keep the child neurologist up to date and interesting topics for non-medical listeners as well

Recently listened to the episode with Dr. Z Lerario (they/them) and Gabriel Glissmeyer (he/him) about transgender and gender minority communities and pediatric neurology, and loved every second! The episode focuses on the importance of providing gender affirming care as a pediatric neurologist and shares steps providers can take to make their practice more welcoming of trans and gender diverse patients. As a non-binary person who has struggled navigating our healthcare system, I am so grateful for providers that are pushing for change and looking to fix a broken system. This episode gives me hope that medicine can become a safe place for all patients. Thank you Ali, Z and Gabe for shedding light on much an important topic. I hope there are more episodes related to trans+ care in the future!

I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Andrew Chung’s recommendations that practitioners need to assess in the pre-op app’t if the patient has OSA and the importance of documenting this information in the patient’s record for access by the surgeon & anesthesiologist in the immediate pre-op period. Patients also need to be responsible in assuring that this information is given to the physicians in the surgical team when they approach the patients pre-operatively. If the patient has a CPAP or BiPAP, they need to bring the machine and mask and tubing(not just the mask and tubing)with them to the hospital. Respiratory therapy departments don’t always have a machine available. As a nurse with OSA & CSA and many co-morbidities, I speak with the anesthesiologist preoperatively & I tell them I want a continuous oxygen sat monitor postoperatively, especially if a narcotic basal rate infusion is prescribed. I took care of a patient after my shift, and the patient had died while sleeping. The patient had had a second rotator cuff repair with a morphine basal rate infusing & oxygen had been dc’d after oxygen sat checks while on room air had met criteria. The patient had OSA & he did not tell the anesthesiologist preoperatively that he had OSA. The patient had told him prior to the first rotator cuff surgery but not the second. Why weren’t his old records reviewed and why wasn’t he asked by medical personnel preoperatively if he had this condition? I assure you that that practice of preoperative assessment of OSA in that hospital began after this incident. The family sued, and they settled out of court. These “more than poor” patient outcomes can be prevented. Thank you for this podcast.