In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Eric Lawson, MD, speaks with NCS Vice President and Annual Meeting Planning Committee Chair Lori Shutter, MD, FNCS, for a preview of the NCS 24th Annual Meeting, taking place Oct. 20-23 in Seattle. Dr. Shutter discusses this year's theme, "Reaching New Heights: Advancing the Future of Neurocritical Care," and how it reflects the Society's continued growth and optimism about the future of the field.

The conversation offers a look at expanded workshop offerings, including sessions on the essentials of neurocritical care, critical care procedures, point-of-care and neurofocused ultrasound, and informatics and big data. Dr. Shutter also previews keynote addresses from Walter Koroshetz, MD, and Lisa Meeks, PhD, along with sessions focused on clinical trials, physiology, pediatric neurocritical care, global health, professional development and sustainability in the ICU.

Listeners will also learn about opportunities for first-time attendees and new members, the return of the leadership closing panel and an open brainstorming session focused on the Society's next major area of research. Dr. Shutter shares how attendee feedback shaped this year's program and offers advice for making the most of the meeting's concurrent sessions, networking opportunities and special events.

The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the host and guest and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Perspectives series, host Nicholas Morris, MD, speaks with Jonathan Rosand, MD, MSc, FNCS, about his career in neurocritical care and his work to advance brain health. Dr. Rosand reflects on the mentors and bedside experiences that drew him to the field, as well as the curiosity and collaboration that have shaped his work as a neurointensivist, stroke geneticist and leader.

The conversation covers the growth of multidisciplinary care at Massachusetts General Hospital and the emotional demands of working in the neuroICU. Dr. Rosand discusses the importance of understanding patients' lives after critical illness and the potential for the neuroICU to serve as a starting point for long-term disease prevention and health promotion.

Drawing on his work in brain health, Dr. Rosand describes the Recovering Together program, the Brain Care Score and the Global Brain Care Coalition, along with the role of blood pressure control, lifestyle changes and patient agency in supporting long-term brain health. He also shares advice on mentorship, clinician-scientist careers and finding an individual path toward making meaningful contributions to the field.

The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the host and guest and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Rich Choi, MD, is joined by Chiara Robba, MD, PhD, to discuss the article "The Effects of Milrinone Systemic Administration on Cerebral Perfusion as Measured with Computed Tomography in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients," published in Neurocritical Care.

Their conversation explores the complex, multifactorial pathophysiology of delayed cerebral ischemia following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and the potential role of intravenous milrinone as a rescue therapy. They discuss how milrinone may influence both systemic and cerebral hemodynamics, as well as the role of CT perfusion imaging in evaluating cerebral blood flow and perfusion heterogeneity.

They also review findings from the retrospective study, including milrinone's association with increased cardiac index but not a consistent increase in cerebral blood flow. Among patients who did not develop delayed cerebral ischemia, cerebral perfusion became more spatially homogeneous as the milrinone dose increased. Dr. Robba explains why the distribution of cerebral blood flow may be more informative than its average value, the potential of perfusion heterogeneity as a marker of treatment response and why larger prospective studies are needed before these findings can inform changes in clinical practice.

The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Gisele Sampaio Silva about the Currents article, "Breaking Barriers: How Brazil's RESILIENT Trials Redefined Stroke Research in Latin America."

Sampaio Silva discusses how the RESILIENT trial demonstrated that mechanical thrombectomy can be delivered safely and effectively within Brazil's public health system. She explains why researchers needed to evaluate the treatment in a middle-income country with significant regional differences in hospital resources, prehospital transportation, imaging access and stroke care infrastructure.

The conversation also explores the partnerships and advocacy required to conduct the multicenter trial, including support from Brazil's Ministry of Health, international researchers and industry collaborators. Silva reflects on how the trial helped pave the way for the approval of mechanical thrombectomy within Brazil's public health system, the persistent gaps in access across the country and the importance of expanding international research partnerships to improve stroke care in resource-limited settings.

To read the full article, visit NCS Currents.

The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Shraddha Mainali, Sahar Zafar and Brooke Murtaugh about their Currents article, "Neurocritical Care Disorders of Consciousness: Do We Have the Education We Need to Provide Care?"

The guests discuss the clinical spectrum of disorders of consciousness and the importance of accurately assessing patients using standardized bedside examinations, neuroimaging and other multimodal tools. They also examine the role of neuroprognostication in guiding conversations with families and ensuring that patients are given appropriate opportunities for recovery.

The conversation explores findings from a pilot survey on educational needs related to disorders of consciousness. The panel discusses barriers to care and education, including limited access to centralized resources, time constraints and knowledge gaps in assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. They also highlight the Curing Coma® Campaign's efforts to expand access to evidence-based education through webinars, online resources, World Coma Day and interdisciplinary global collaboration.

To read the full article, visit NCS Currents.

The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Rich Choi, MD, is joined by Eric Rosenthal, MD, to discuss the article "Surgical Intervention for Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus," a systematic review published in Neurocritical Care.

Their conversation explores why super-refractory status epilepticus can become increasingly difficult to control, the limited evidence guiding treatment after standard medical therapies have failed and how surgical approaches may fit into care for selected patients.

They also discuss the review's findings across 114 reported cases, including high rates of status epilepticus termination after surgical intervention, the distinction between terminating status and achieving long-term freedom from disabling seizures and the potential role of earlier multidisciplinary collaboration with epilepsy and neurosurgery teams. Dr. Rosenthal also emphasizes the importance of matching the intervention to the patient's underlying etiology, seizure localization and goals of care.

The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Rich Choi, MD, is joined by Alejandro Rabinstein, MD, Shraddha Mainali, MD, and Krishna Rajajee, MD, to discuss the article "Guidelines for Neuroprognostication in Critically Ill Adults With Acute Ischemic Stroke," published in Neurocritical Care.

Their conversation explores the development of the guideline, including the need for a more structured, evidence-based approach to prognostication in critically ill patients with acute ischemic stroke. The guests discuss why early prognostication is especially high-stakes, how uncertainty and the risk of self-fulfilling prophecy shaped the recommendations and why no single clinical variable or prediction model is reliable enough to guide individual decisions about poor outcomes.

They also review the role of early neurological improvement as a moderately reliable predictor of good outcomes, the limitations of existing prediction models in the era of reperfusion therapy, and the importance of multimodal assessment, ongoing family conversations, long-term outcome counseling and shared decision-making rooted in each patient's values.

The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Perspectives series, host Nicholas Morris, MD, and co-host Tom Lawson, PhD, ACNP-BC, FNCS, speak with Molly McNett, PhD, RN, CNRN, FNCS, FAAN, about her career in neurocritical care and the role of implementation science in translating research evidence into routine clinical practice. Dr. McNett reflects on her early experiences as an ICU nurse, the disconnect she observed between published evidence and bedside care and how those experiences shaped her work in research, guideline development and implementation science.

The conversation explores the distinction between implementation science and quality improvement, common barriers to practice change and the importance of identifying local facilitators, workflows and organizational needs. Dr. McNett discusses examples such as automated pupillometry and fall-prevention practices, highlighting how implementation strategies and hybrid research designs can help healthcare teams adopt and sustain evidence-based care.

The discussion also examines interdisciplinary collaboration, mentorship and opportunities for nurses and advanced practice providers interested in research. Dr. McNett shares practical advice for clinicians seeking to address evidence-to-practice gaps, including finding mentors, participating in research teams and developing a deeper understanding of individual and organizational behavior change.

The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Vanessa Abraham, MS, CCC-SLP, and Jared Rosen, MD, about Vanessa's Story of Hope and the lasting connection they formed during her neurocritical care journey.

Vanessa shares how a sudden illness progressed from flu-like symptoms to respiratory failure and paralysis, ultimately requiring mechanical ventilation, an prolonged ICU stay and inpatient rehabilitation. She discusses the uncertainty surrounding her eventual diagnosis of a rare pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome, as well as the fear of being unable to communicate, care for her daughter or return to the life she knew before her illness.

The conversation also explores the profound impact of compassionate, patient-centered care. Vanessa reflects on how Dr. Rosen, then a medical student completing an ICU rotation, became a reassuring presence for both her and her husband. Together, they discuss the importance of recognizing intubated patients as active participants in their care, providing accessible communication tools and taking time to listen. They also emphasize how small acts of empathy and human connection can reduce anxiety and potentially lessen the long-term effects of post-intensive care syndrome.

To read Vanessa's full Story of Hope, visit NCS Currents.

The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the Neurocritical Care Society Podcast Masterclass series, hosts Stephan Mayer, MD, FCCM, FNCS, and Jon Rosenberg, MD, are joined by Richard Wunderink, MD, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and pulmonary critical care intensivist, to discuss the diagnosis and management of respiratory infections in the ICU.

Dr. Wunderink highlights why ventilator-associated pneumonia and suspected respiratory infections are common challenges across critical care settings, particularly among patients with acute neurologic injury, aspiration risk and prolonged mechanical ventilation. The discussion focuses on practical, bedside approaches to pneumonia management, including the limitations of tracheal aspirates and the risks of antibiotic overuse. The group also examines the role of bronchoalveolar lavage and the value of adjunctive diagnostic tools such as quantitative cultures, cell counts, Gram stains, amylase testing and molecular panels.

They further explore how rapid diagnostics can help clinicians make more targeted antibiotic decisions, support earlier de-escalation when appropriate and prompt consideration of non-pulmonary causes of fever or clinical instability when pneumonia is unlikely. The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.