Migraine development, treatments, research advances, and anesthesia implications.

: The purpose of this course is to update anesthesia providers on the phenomenology and biological mechanisms underlying migraines. As experts in pain management who encounter this common ailment, anesthesia providers frequently are consulted to assist in patient care. Effective assessment and treatment of migraine will lead to better anesthesia management. Knowledge of preventive measures of surgical patients with migraine history can avoid events that can elicit a headache attack. The clinical implications of migraine disorder--and each patient's preventive medication profile--is relevant to safe, accommodative anesthesia nursing care. Research advances in migraine treatment may profoundly improve our current pain relief measures. Adequate knowledge of the development, treatments, and research advances concerning migraine will improve patient care.