Invitación al tema de las unidades de neurointensivo / An invitation to the topic of neurointensive units

ABSTRACT

The paper Admission to neurological intensive care: who, when, and why? by Howard RS, Kullmann DM, Hirsch NP published in J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2003; 74 (Suppl III): iii2-iii9, lists and briefly comments on the pathologies treated in a neurointensive care unit. Two interesting concepts discussed in the paper are: 1. Exhaustive care given by the nursing staff and early kinesiological treatment are key to achieving positive results among patients hospitalized in any type of intensive care unit; and 2. A patient suffering from a serious neurological illness should be hospitalized in neurointensive care rather than in a general critical care unit since specialized care units can better anticipate a patientÆs needs due to the staffÆs greater knowledge of the nature of neurological illnesses and a keener ability to recognize complications early on.