In approximately one month, many of our Society of Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care (SNACC) members; clinicians; neuroscientists; educators; nurse anesthetists; and trainees from all over the world will meet in Atlanta GA for our annual meeting for valuable updates and discussions; to network; and reconnect with colleagues, mentors, mentees, and friends. Since 1972, our Neuroanesthesia Society’s annual meeting has served as an important platform for improving the care and outcomes of our neurosurgical patients. Our Neuroanesthesia Society has grown over the years, and we continue to drive innovation in Neuroscience research and clinical care. This year, members who have submitted program proposals and SNACC’s annual meeting planning committee deserve credit for contributing to and helping to organize, respectively, a thought-provoking meeting that I hope will compel continued growth and development of this important subspecialty. Our sponsors, members, and leaders who have generously donated resources and time to support the work we do in this organization are also truly appreciated!
Below are some highlights of our upcoming meeting.
Our Keynote, WINNER (Women in Neuroanesthesia and Neuroscience Education and Research), and Neuroscience symposium speakers will open our 53rd annual scientific meeting. Dr. Meredith Adams will offer valuable insights on the role of Artificial Intelligence in the care of our patients. This year’s WINNER speaker, Dr. Susanne Muehlschlegel will share her journey from her bedside observations in clinical practice to building rigorous prediction models, and to advancing the science of prognostic communication for patients with severe acute brain injury. We would also like to invite the women of SNACC to join Dr. Muehlschlegel during lunch for A conversation: Work/life Juggling and Leadership. The annual Neuroscience Symposium organized by Dr. Nicolai Goettel will help broaden our understanding of Brain-Organ Communication in Health and Disease with 3 accomplished speakers addressing: the gut-brain communication and the enteric nervous system – Dr. Trisha Pasricha; the lung-brain interaction and physiology in the setting of acute brain injury – Dr. Jacqueline Kraft; and from one of our SNACC leaders, Dr. Tumul Chowdhury will discuss the delicate but sometimes fatal interactions between the brain and heart.
Abstract presentations, the heart of our meeting, organized by our Scientific Affairs committee leads, Drs. Susana Vacas and Kathleen Vincent will provide important opportunities to engage presenters. The International Council on perioperative neuroscience training (ICPNT), under the leadership of Drs. Shobana Rajan and Val Luoma will be hosting an engaging day of workshops: from understanding the mysteries of research and academic publishing lead by the former and new editor of the Journal of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology, Drs. Martin Smith and Alana Flexman, respectively; to EEG monitoring, brain ultrasound, POCUS, External ventricular drain management, and perioperative monitoring modalities. I encourage you to assess your knowledge with a quiz at the end of this pre-meeting educational experience! The Education Committee’s problem-based learning discussions organized by Dr. Lauren Dunn is also a rich interactive venue for review and discussion.
New this year, are panels on relevant clinically focused Neuroanesthesia topics: Neurological complications in the PACU will include Delayed emergence in the PACU – Dr. Akano; Seizures after Surgery – Dr. Manohar; and Management of Delirium in the PACU – Dr. Deepali Garg. A Rational Approach to Challenging Cases will include Awake Craniotomy for the Pediatric Patient – Dr. Rath; The anesthetic management of the Brain-Dead Organ Donor -Dr. Gomez; and Dr. Blacker will discuss the Interdisciplinary approach to managing the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) patient having non-neurological surgery.
In other general session panels, Drs. Tavares, Shafiq, and Shiferaw will help elucidate the challenges of Neuroanestheisa care and education globally with their panel Neuroanesthesia Practice in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. SNACC’s New, and Emerging concepts in TBI panel will feature esteemed panelists engaging: the new TBI classification schema – Dr. Ramon Diaz -Arrastia; the limitations of neuroprotection research – Dr. Andy Kofke; and the impact of guideline adherence on acute severe pediatric brain injury – Dr. Monica Vavilala. From our CORE committee of SNACC (Culture, Openness, Resilience, and Empowerment), Stroke and perioperative brain health will, in addition to up-to-date presentations on Perioperative Stroke – Dr. Matthew Whalin and Covert Stroke – the Silent threat to perioperative brain health – Dr. Susana Vacas, include a thought-provoking presentation on the disproportionate burden of this disease in certain populations – Dr. Matthew Wixson. In Should We Do It All? Achieving the Best outcomes for Complex Spine Surgery, two experts will compel an important discussion on our role in neuromonitoring – Dr. Christoph Seubert and the value of ERAS protocols – Dr. Basma Mohammed. SNACC’s Innovations in Neuroanesthesia, a panel selected from our membership, including presentations by Dr. Paul Garcia and Dr. Rafi Avitsian, is sure to promote stimulating discussions and inspire new ideas for exploration in our subspecialty. I invite all to participate in what will be a provocative pro/con discussion on the value of a Neuroanesthesia fellowship moderated by Dr. Nemergut.
The awards and abstract winners, and opportunities for networking during our meeting and opening reception, are just a few of the extra benefits that come with attending SNACC’s annual meeting. Explore our program this year and consider registering for this great opportunity to discover, meet and reconnect!
