Anesthesia for Spine Surgery - Disposition

Immediate postprocedure care is dependent upon the procedure and the comorbidities of the patient. For all patients, frequent neurologic checks are performed. Factors determining disposition to an ICU include extensive surgery, significant blood loss, large, facial and airway edema, and postoperative ventilatory support. Emphasizing optimal postoperative pulmonary care, for example, incentive spirometry, is essential to avoid complications such as atelectasis and pneumonia.

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