PERTEMUAN BEDAH –TRAUMA MAXILLO FACIAL- TRIGONUM- MANADO, APRIL 2015 1 THE ROLE OF ANESTHESIST IN MANAGEMENT OF HEAD AND NECK TRAUMA Diana Christine Lalenoh Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care Faculty of Medicine Sam Ratulangi University Prof. R.D. Kandou Hospital, Manado Anaesthesia for trauma patients presents unique challenges for anaesthetists. Patient information is limited, previous medical history, details of chronic medication, allergies, genetic abnormalities are unknown. Patients: intoxicated, full stomach, potential cervical spine instability. Patients often:multiple injuries, requiring several procedures, sometimes in different positions. Difficult airway is not unusual, special airway management equipment may be required at short notice. Occult injuries: tension pneumothorax or cardiac tamponade, can manifest at unexpected times. TRAUMA Trauma is the neglected disease of modern developing nations!!! Trauma patients often present as emergencies in small community hospitals with limited resources, where the multidisciplinary team is all but absent. Management trauma patients require: participation of a multidisciplinary team: trauma surgeon, orthopaedic surgeon, neurosurgeon, plastics surgeon, vascular surgeon, radiologist, laboratory technician, blood bank technician, intensivist,& the anaesthetistContinue the resuscitation, already in progress, whose role is fundamental to the final outcome of the patient.