Acute neurological disorders, such as traumatic brain injury or ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke, are amongst the most prevalent causes of death and disability worldwide. In addition, severe systemic insults such as sepsis or severe shock often affect the brain. Caring for patients with critical neurological and neurosurgical conditions is challenging, and requires a unique set of skills.
The eCourse on Mastering the Brain in Critical Conditions offers an advanced educational programme on the management of neuro-critically ill patients, and will cover a broad spectrum of topics, including basic pathophysiological principles, traditional and novel diagnostic and monitoring tools, updated treatment strategies, and realistic clinical scenarios.
After registering for the event, ensure you access the dedicated online classroom on the ESICM Academy.
Core Faculty
Directors:
Carmen LOPEZ SOTO MD Consultant in Critical Care Medicine, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London
Virginia NEWCOMBE MD Neurosciences and Trauma Critical Care Unit (NCCU), Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge; Perioperative, Acute, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine (PACE) Section, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Explain the core physiological principles underpinning neurocritical care, including ICP dynamics, autoregulation, and cerebral perfusion.
Describe how systemic factors—haemodynamics, ventilation, temperature, nutrition, and fluid choice—influence secondary brain injury.
Select and justify appropriate monitoring strategies for individual brain-injured patients.
Distinguish the pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, and acute management priorities of subarachnoid haemorrhage, ischaemic stroke, and haemorrhagic stroke.
Recognise and manage the major complications associated with each stroke subtype.
Apply appropriate blood pressure, surgical, and reperfusion strategies according to stroke type and timing.
Recognise and manage status epilepticus, including escalation through pharmacological therapy.
Describe the pathophysiology and post-arrest management of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.
Apply a structured approach to neuroprognostication in the comatose patient.
Differentiate community-acquired from nosocomial CNS infections in terms of risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.
Recognise autoimmune encephalitis as a differential for acute encephalopathy and outline its management.
Formulate appropriate empirical and targeted therapy for CNS infective and inflammatory conditions.
Describe the pathophysiology of primary and secondary traumatic brain injury outlining evidence-based strategies to prevent secondary insult.
Apply current guidelines for ICP/CPP-directed management and surgical decision-making (including decompressive craniectomy) in severe TBI.
Recognise the clinical features and classification of acute spinal cord injury, including neurogenic and spinal shock.
Outline the acute management priorities in spinal cord injury, including haemodynamic support, airway/respiratory considerations, and timing of surgical intervention.
Discuss the evidence (and controversies) around steroids, therapeutic hypothermia, and other neuroprotective strategies in traumatic CNS injury.
Formulate an approach to prognostication and rehabilitation planning following traumatic brain and spinal cord injury.
Programme Content
Physiological principles underpinning the management of different neurocritical care patients
Relevant monitor
Case based discussions on the management of:
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Ischemic stroke
Haemorrhagic stroke
Traumatic brain injury
CNS infections
Inflammatory CNS disease
Target
In training intensive care physicians, intensive care nurses and allied healthcare professionals who want to gain a deeper understanding of the management of neuro-critical care conditions and Experienced intensive care physicians who want an update on latest evidence in management.
Support Emerging Nations and Eastern Europe
ESICM members from the Emerging Nations and Eastern Europe (see list of countries here) are entitled to an discount on registration fees. To qualify, participants must be active ESICM members for the current year. To become a member, please see more information here.
Accreditation
An application has been made to the UEMS EACCME® for CME accreditation of each live event.
