Multimodal Monitoring in the Neurocritical Care Unit

Abstract

Multimodality monitoring of cerebral physiology in neurocritical care patients includes the application of different monitoring techniques and the integration of different measured biochemical and physiologic variables into assessment of brain function. Commonly used monitoring techniques include intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, neuroimaging, transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, cerebral oxygenation and brain tissue oxygen tension monitoring, microdialysis, and electroencephalography. The development of these techniques broadened knowledge about brain pathophysiology and cerebral hemodynamics. Moreover, integration of these information enables real-time detection of neurological injury and complications for more precise diagnosis and management of patients with brain injury.