Dr. Wendy Ziai, a neurology professor at Johns Hopkins, and Dr. Richard Choi, a neurointensivist, delve into groundbreaking research on postoperative monitoring after elective intracranial surgery. They discuss the safety and efficiency of using Postanesthesia Care Units (PACUs) to reduce ICU demand while maintaining patient outcomes. With insights from a decade-long study involving over 5,500 patients, they highlight collaboration across departments, the importance of managing external ventricular drains, and strategies for prioritizing ICU resources during capacity challenges.
