Neuro Intensive Care Unit
When you or a loved one needs emergency care for your brain, spinal cord or nerves, also called neurological intensive care, the neurointensivists at UNC Health Rex provide the specialized care needed to minimize delays. Getting treatment quickly is essential in this kind of care for better outcomes.
Our neurological intensive care unit, or neuro ICU, uses the latest technology and treatments to stop or reverse catastrophic brain damage. This kind of damage can stem from complications following acute stroke, traumatic brain injury and other neurological conditions.
Our team of dedicated neurointensivists, advanced care providers, specialized neuro nurses, pharmacists, case managers, dietitians and respiratory therapists are here to provide your or your loved one with specialized, intensive brain care.
With 18 beds, the neuro ICU includes 24/7 monitoring by the neuroscience team and hard-wired EEG capabilities in each patient room to allow monitoring of brain activity long-term.
Conditions
- Blood clot in the brain, called acute ischemic stroke
- Bleeding within the skull that is a type of stroke
- A weak blood vessel in the brain, called a cerebral aneurysm or brain aneurysm
- Abnormal blood vessels in the brain called cerebrovascular malformations
- Coma
- Decreased blood flow or oxygen to the brain, called encephalopathy
- Too much fluid deep inside the brain, also called hydrocephalus
- Brain tumors
- Traumatic brain injury or TBI
- Injury to the spinal cord
- Breakthrough or continuous seizures
- Neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Inflammation of the tissues around the brain and spinal cord, also called Meningitis
- Inflammation of the brain, called encephalitis
- Spinal infection
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Abnormal function of the body's involuntary processes, such as breathing, and heart rate, known as autonomic instability
Treatments
- Innovative brain monitoring, including intracranial pressure, brain tissue oxygen and continuous EEG, a test that monitors brain activity
- Acute stroke treatment using clot-busting drugs or intra-arterial mechanical clot removal
- Emergency reversal agents to stop bleeding in the brain due to blood thinners
- Hemicraniectomy for devasting stroke with massive brain swelling
- Therapeutic hypothermia to minimize brain swelling and damage from oxygen deprivation
- Neuro-stimulants to promote fast brain recovery
- Early mobility and rehabilitation initiative
- Step-down unit for continuing neurological care after the neuro ICU
Why Choose the Neuro Team at UNC Health Rex?
- 24/7 emergency consults
- Emergency transport via helicopter or ambulance
- The only Certified Stroke Center in Wake County
- Advanced imaging with RAPID perfusion, an artificial intelligence platform that identifies where mechanical thrombectomy can potentially save areas of the brain
- Transcranial doppler to help identify blood vessels that are having spasms and could cause damage, improving outcomes
- Neurointerventional suite with biplane angiography offering mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke to help prevent mortality and reduce disability after stroke and allow for minimally invasive treatment of other abnormal brain
- Rapid care for brain injuries by a dedicated neuro ICU team can lead to better outcomes
- Family-centered care with open access for loved ones
