2024 Workshop Handout Bundle-W02B Autonomic Testing Using Live Demonstration

W02B Autonomic Testing Using Live Demonstration

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The document presented details a workshop titled "Autonomic Testing Using Live Demonstration" by Dr. Jasvinder PS Chawla at the 2024 AANEM Annual Meeting in Savannah, GA. The workshop focuses on practical aspects of autonomic testing, including techniques such as the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex testing (QSART), heart rate variability studies, and the Valsalva maneuver. These tests are essential for diagnosing autonomic nerve disorders that affect involuntary functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and sweating.<br /><br />Detailed case studies illustrate the importance and application of these tests. For example, Case 1 involves a 39-year-old male with type 1 diabetes who experiences foot pain and erectile dysfunction, displaying signs of mild cardiovagal dysfunction and length-dependent sudomotor dysfunction, indicating small fiber autonomic neuropathy. Case 2 examines a 61-year-old female with hypertension, coronary artery disease, and type 2 diabetes, who experiences postural dizziness and falls, indicating orthostatic hypotension with adrenergic dysfunction.<br /><br />The clinical evaluation section emphasizes recognizing autonomic dysfunction patterns and assessing their impact on patients' lives. It also highlights the importance of identifying treatable disorders and recognizing "red flags" in autonomic testing results. The document stresses the importance of sweating tests such as QSART and thermoregulatory sweat tests (TST) for diagnosing small-fiber neuropathy and other peripheral autonomic disorders.<br /><br />The workshop underscores the necessity of autonomic testing in revealing the severity and distribution of autonomic failure, whether generalized or limited. Furthermore, it discusses the physiological mechanisms behind tests and addresses how factors such as age, gender, and body responses impact these evaluations.<br /><br />Overall, autonomic testing is depicted as a critical component in diagnosing and managing autonomic disorders, enhancing clinical practice, and improving patient outcomes.

Keywords

Autonomic Testing

Live Demonstration

AANEM Annual Meeting

QSART

Heart Rate Variability

Valsalva Maneuver

Autonomic Nerve Disorders

Small Fiber Neuropathy

Clinical Evaluation

Sweating Tests