Our trainees review webinars in their given fields and share abstracts to help colleagues outside their discipline make an informed choice about watching them. As our program bridges diverse disciplines, these abstracts are beneficial for our own group in helping one another gain key knowledge in each other’s fields. We are happy to share these here for anyone else who may find them helpful.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome: American Academy of Neurology Webinar
Pushpa Narayanaswami, MD
Nov 3, 2016
American Academy of Neurology
Analysis by William Baker:
In this insightful webinar, speaker Dr. Narayanaswami discusses the affliction referred to as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This webinar is valuable, not only because it delves into an intriguing neurological disease, but because it involves attributes that are relevant in the context of other neurological issues.
The webinar begins by considering the history surrounding this illness. In particular, an emphasis is placed on the pathophysiology that underlies this affliction, followed by the clinical symptoms that are attributed to GBS. The speaker proceeds to examine in detail the traditional symptoms that are associated with GBS, as well as less common attributes of this disease. From here, the video pivots to its main focus: the identification of GBS. Considerable attention is devoted to not only the analytical techniques necessary to identify this disease, but also to the limitations that are associated with the aforementioned techniques. Specifically, it is noted that identification of this illness is heavily dependent on an understanding of the pathogenesis of GBS.
After discussing the diagnosis of GBS, the speaker transitions to discussion regarding the treatment of GBS. In particular, the speaker concentrates on important aspects of supportive care for individuals inflicted with GBS, including consideration for respiratory failure, nutritional support, and neuropathic pain. One of the more emerging treatment options of immunotherapy is analyzed while acknowledging the limitations and parameters associated with this treatment modality. The video concludes by discussing the prospective prognoses that GBS involves.
As mentioned previously, I find this video insightful because it excellently ties a somewhat obscure illness, GBS, to neurological disease as a whole. I would argue it could be insightful for any neuroscientists interested in neuropathophysiology.