Development of neurocritical care

Abstract In this review we provide the definition, goals and objectives of neurocritical care, evaluation of brief history of its development. Mechanical ventilation, intracranial hypertension, neuromonitoring as underlying basics of neurocritical care approaches are discussed. The main types of pathology and specific methods used in neurocritical care units are discussed. The results of our own research on brain death--the development of national criteria; for Guillain-Barre syndrome--a double decrease in the length of mechanical ventilation and in 2.5 times of the recovery time for independent walking ability; on diphteric polyneuropathy--reduced by 11 times mortality compared with nation-wide indicators of nontraumatic persistent vegetative state--the development of diagnostic and predictive neurophysiologic criteria are demonstrated. Research data of multiple organ disfunction syndrome in severe stroke are described. Further development of neurocritical care is being discussed.