How much medical management does a neurosurgeon get to do outside of operating? What are some types of diseases or conditions that a neurosurgeon might manage?

We manage everything primarily from vent settings, abx for pneumonia etc, syncope, cardiac arrythmias, COPD, renal failure, to lupus.  When it gets complicated we call a consult, I somewhat wish the consulting services were more hands on with management of issues relating to their area of expertise.  For long term management of issues like BP or LBP we’ll discharge on a medication and arrange for follow up with a primary care provider.  Doesn’t make sense to have someone come to neurosurgery clinic for adjustment of their lopressor.

I think it depends on the individual program. On the trail right now when I ask, it ranges from the neurosurgery service handling every aspect of patient care to mostly handing off daily care to a neurocritical care team. Most places fall in between.

i don’t know where socrates practices, but that’s certainly not the environment in which I work. We get consults for everything. I haven’t put in a central line, A-line, changed a vent setting, or prescribed an anti-hypertensive besides IV cardene my entire residency. Some might think that makes us “weak”, but whatever - in the real private practice world, you as an attending neurosurgeon aren’t going to be mixing up dialysis settings for your patients.

I agree with HardlySuper that the trend is to get away from the neurosurgery service managing the majority of things.