Neurointensive care

Neurointensive care (also known as Neurocritical care) is a medical field that provides comprehensive care to critically ill patients with neurologic conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, neurosurgery, and other conditions that require intensive care.

Overview

Neurointensive care is a specialized form of intensive care that focuses on the management of critical neurological and neurosurgical patients. These patients often require intensive monitoring and complex medical management. Neurointensive care units (NICUs) are typically staffed by a multidisciplinary team including neurologists, neurosurgeons, neurointensivists, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, dietitians, and social workers.

Conditions Treated

Neurointensive care units treat a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Stroke
• Brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Intracerebral hemorrhage
• Status epilepticus
• Meningitis
• Encephalitis
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Myasthenia gravis
• Neuromuscular disorders

Treatment and Management

The treatment and management of patients in the neurointensive care unit can be complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. This may include:

• Mechanical ventilation for patients with respiratory failure
• Intracranial pressure monitoring for patients with severe brain injury
• Seizure management for patients with status epilepticus
• Antibiotic therapy for patients with meningitis or encephalitis
• Immunotherapy for patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome or myasthenia gravis
• Rehabilitation services for patients recovering from stroke or spinal cord injury

See Also

• Intensive care medicine
• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Critical care nursing

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  An intensive care unit in a hospital
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  Iron Lung ward at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital
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  Walter Dandy, ca. 1915
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  ICU Monitor (front)
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  MCA Stroke Brain Human