Neurocritical Care
Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital has a neurocritical
care team who understands the importance of treating the whole patient,
from the brain to the heart, the lungs to the spine. We collaborate with
specialists and physicians from across the Institute to make sure every
patient receives complete, expert care.
Our neurocritical care team treats patients who have life-threatening neurological
conditions. These patients, who are usually in our neurological intensive
care unit (Neuro-ICU), need care for their neurological condition and
other body systems that may be affected by that condition, such as the
heart, lungs or kidneys.
At Marcus Neuroscience Institute, our neurocritical care team includes
critical care physicians who have a background in neurology. This expertise
allows us to provide immediate, effective treatment when it matters most,
helping you or your loved one recover as fully as possible.
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Which conditions do you provide neurocritical care for at Marcus Neuroscience
Institute?
We provide neurocritical care for life-threatening neurological conditions
that may affect other major organs, such as the heart or lungs. These
conditions can include:
-
Strokes, including ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes
-
Status epilepticus and other conditions that cause continuous or long
seizures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Cardiac arrest recovery
- Post-operative neurosurgical care
- Neuro-muscular disorders, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome or myasthenia gravis
How does Marcus Neuroscience Institute care for patients with neurocritical
conditions?
Our neurocritical care team focuses on monitoring all of the major organs,
including the brain, heart, kidneys and lungs. We understand the importance
of treating the whole patient and every body system that may be affected
by a neurological condition.
IWhen a patient comes in for neurocritical care, we start with a neurological
exam to check brain function and how the brain is communicating with the
rest of the body. We’ll also use different tests and monitoring
tools to check on major organs. These tests can include:
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- CT scans of the brain
- Chest X-rays
- Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
- Echocardiogram
If a patient needs treatment, we work closely with the neuro-ICU team,
neurosurgeons, and interventional neuroradiologists to provide fast, effective
care. As a comprehensive stroke center accredited by DNV Healthcare, we
provide the quickest and most effective
stroke treatment in the region. This includes clot-busting treatments such as tPA, or tissue
plasminogen activator, as well as endovascular treatments.
Neurocritical care research at Marcus Neuroscience Institute
The neurocritical care team at Marcus Neuroscience Institute is involved
in promising research to develop personalized medicine for neurologic
conditions. While many people may associate personalized medicine or precision
medicine with cancer treatment, we use a similar strategy for neurologic
conditions.
Our research team builds a brain model — or “brain in a dish”
— for every patient in our neurocritical ICU. To do this, we take
a sample of the patient’s cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and pull out
specific cells to grow in a petri dish with other brain cells. This model
can show us whether the patient’s brain is likely to become more
inflamed or if it will heal. This process helps us closely monitor patients
who may be at risk for more severe complications and provide treatment faster.
Working together with Florida Atlantic University, we are also using these
brain models to develop drugs to treat brain inflammation. In the future,
we hope we can translate this research into personalized treatments for
neurocritical care patients.
Our approach
When you come to Marcus Neuroscience Institute for neurocritical care,
you can expect:
- A team that understands the communication between the brain and other organs,
and the importance of caring for the whole patient
- The region’s experts in neurocritical care, which includes doctors
who ae Board-certified in both neurology and neurocritical care (neuro-intensivists)
- The latest diagnostic technology and treatment approaches for severe neurologic
conditions
What kind of recovery time can I expect for a loved one in neurocritical care?
Every patient’s brain is different, which means recovery time can
vary greatly for each person. Recovery times can also vary within families.
Our neurocritical care team will make sure to keep you informed about
your loved one’s recovery.
What is a neuro-intensivist?
A neuro-intensivist is a physician with both neurology and critical care
training. Neuro-intensivists care for patients in neuro-ICUs. They have
expertise in monitoring and treating life-threatening neurological and
general critical care conditions. As the only hospital in the region with
neuro-intensivists on staff, Marcus Neuroscience Institute has the expertise
needed to care for critically ill patients.
Meet the team
Our neurocritical care team includes Board-certified neuro-intensivists
who work alongside neurosurgeons and interventional radiologists.