Neurocritical care is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on the management of critically ill patients with neurological conditions. It is a complex and interdisciplinary field that requires advanced qualifications and training to provide effective care to patients with acute neurological conditions.
Definition and Scope of NEUROCRITICAL CARE
Neurocritical care incorporates the expertise of neurology, neurosurgery, critical care medicine, and other related disciplines to monitor, diagnose, and treat patients with neurological diseases or injuries that require intensive care. The scope of neurocritical care includes diagnosis and treatment of acute neurological illnesses and injuries, as well as long-term management of chronic neurological diseases. Neurocritical care encompasses a wide range of conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, stroke, spinal cord injury, brain tumors, hydrocephalus, meningitis, encephalitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracranial hemorrhage, head trauma, coma, seizures, and neuromuscular disorders.
Qualifications, Training Requirements, and Available Certifications for NEUROCRITICAL CARE
To practice neurocritical care, a physician should be trained in neurology or neurosurgery then fellowship trained in neurologic critical care. The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) offers a certification program in neurocritical care.
Diagnoses, Treatments, Diseases, Conditions, Injuries, and Procedures Performed by NEUROCRITICAL CARE
Neurocritical care teams use advanced imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and positron emission tomography (PET) for diagnosis. Neurocritical care teams also use specialized monitoring techniques such as continuous EEG monitoring (cEEG) to detect early signs of deterioration in patients with acute neurological conditions. Treatments available in neurocritical care include medications to control seizures, coma-inducing drugs, steroids to reduce brain swelling or other intracranial pressure abnormalities, and surgical procedures such as craniotomies or shunt placements.
Related Medical Specialties to NEUROCRITICAL CARE
Neurocritical care requires the expertise of multiple medical specialties, including neurology, neurosurgery, and critical care medicine. Neurologists specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases related to the brain and nervous system, while neurosurgeons specialize in surgical procedures related to the brain and nervous system. Critical care medicine focuses on providing intensive care to critically ill patients.