Beach Chair Position And Anesthesia

Shoulder Surgery in the Beach Chair Position Linked to Reduced Brain Function

[City, State] - [Date] - A recent study has found that undergoing shoulder surgery in the beach chair position under general anesthesia is associated with a decreased ability of the brain to regulate its own blood flow, known as cerebral autoregulation. The beach chair position is one of two primary positions used in shoulder arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat shoulder injuries.

The study, published in the journal Arthroscopy, involved 30 patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy. Researchers measured cerebral autoregulation using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, which provides real-time information about blood flow in the brain. They found that cerebral autoregulation was significantly diminished in patients undergoing surgery in the beach chair position compared to those in the lateral decubitus position, the other commonly used position for shoulder arthroscopy.

The diminished cerebral autoregulation in the beach chair position is a concern because it could potentially increase the risk of brain injury during surgery. Further research is needed to determine the long-term implications of this finding and to identify potential strategies to mitigate the risks associated with shoulder surgery in the beach chair position.