In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Tara Wall and her husband, Ron, whose journey through cardiac arrest and recovery offers a deeply personal look at the realities of critical illness, caregiving and hope. Tara, a former NICU nurse, recounts the terrifying moment her husband collapsed at home and the life-saving measures she took, while Ron shares his fragmented but remarkable memories from the event and his long road back to health. Toge...
Jun 02, 2025•33 min
In this episode of the NCS Podcast Perspective series, Nicholas Morris, MD, is joined by Immediate Past-President of NCS, Paul Vespa, MD, a professor of neurology and neurosurgery at UCLA. Dr. Vespa shares his path into neurocritical care, as well as his views on the growth of neuro ICUs and advances in continuous EEG monitoring and microdialysis. He discusses the future of AI in EEG, the value of patient stories and the importance of clinician-investigators, mentorship, and teamwork. The views ...
May 04, 2025•48 min
In this episode of the NCS Podcast Masterclass series, Stephan Mayer, MD, FCCM, FNCS, and Jon Rosenberg, MD, welcome renowned neurointensivist Chiara Robba, MD, Ph.D., to discuss the concept of brain protective ventilation. Drawing from her experience across both pulmonary and neurocritical care, Dr. Robba explores the physiological nuance of ventilating patients with brain injury, including how to balance positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), tidal volume and CO₂ levels to protect both lung ...
Apr 21, 2025•31 min
In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Clio Rubinos, MD, MS, and Rommel Morel, MD, about the urgent need to improve pre-hospital neurocritical care in low- and middle-income countries. They explore disparities in emergency response, the reality of patients arriving via family or bystanders and community-driven solutions like Colombia’s Bootstrap consensus and Uganda’s MOTOR trial. The conversation highlights how global collaboration, data-dri...
Apr 21, 2025•26 min
In this episode of Perspectives , Dr. Nicholas Morris is joined by neurocritical care fellows Dr. Diana Alsbrook, Dr. Sonja Darwish and Dr. Scott Sparks to discuss the future of the field. They share insights on choosing a fellowship, the challenges of training and what it takes to become a well-rounded neurointensivist. From clinical autonomy and mentorship to wellness and preparing for life after fellowship, this conversation provides valuable perspectives for both aspiring fellows and experie...
Mar 14, 2025•46 min
In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, welcomes Ray and his wife, Kathleen, who authored a recent Currents "Stories of Hope" feature. Ray shares his journey of recovery after sustaining a traumatic brain injury in an accident while traveling in Aruba. Kathleen offers her perspective on navigating medical care abroad, the challenges of intensive rehabilitation and the resilience that carried them forward. Tune in to hear their inspiring story of determination...
Feb 24, 2025•33 min
In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topic Series , host Dr. Nicholas Morris speaks with Dr. Fabio Taccone about the recently published TRAIN randomized clinical trial. The study compares restrictive versus liberal transfusion strategies in patients with acute brain injury, shedding new light on hemoglobin targets, neurological outcomes and transfusion-related risks. Dr. Taccone, a leading researcher in neuroprotection, breaks down the findings, their implications for clinical practice and how...
Feb 18, 2025•39 min
In this episode of Hot Topics , Dr. Nicholas Morris interviews Dr. David Greer, a leading expert in brain death determination, to discuss the Neurocritical Care Society's new in-person brain death determination course. Dr. Greer highlights the importance of standardized protocols and training, the global success of the online course and the advantages of hands-on learning with mannequins and expert supervision. They also explore common errors in brain death exams and the need for rigorous certif...
Jan 29, 2025•18 min
In this episode of Perspectives, Dr. Nicholas Morris talks with Diane McLaughlin, FNCS, about her journey into neurocritical care and the vital role of postgraduate training for APPs. She highlights the importance of ultrasound, sharing how she developed her skills and discusses strategies for staff retention and career growth. She also reflects on advancements in stroke treatment and the benefits of professional society involvement. The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the...
Jan 13, 2025•47 min
In this episode of Hot Topics , Dr. Nicholas Morris interviews Claire Dahyot-Fizelier, M.D, Ph.D. , a professor of anesthesia and intensive care at the University of Poitiers, to explore the groundbreaking PROPHY-VAP trial published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine . This landmark study investigates the impact of single-dose ceftriaxone prophylaxis on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in acute brain injury patients. Dr. Dahyot-Fizelier discusses the rationale behind the study, key findings...
Dec 03, 2024•37 min
In this episode of Hot Topics , Dr. Nicholas Morris interviews Dr. Giuseppe Citerio, professor of anesthesia and intensive care at Milano-Bicocca University, about the ORANGE study, which investigated the neurological pupil index (NPI) for prognosticating outcomes in patients with acute brain injury. The study, involving 13 centers in Europe and North America, found that repeat abnormal NPI values, including zero, were predictors of poor outcomes. The study collected data every four hours for se...
Nov 04, 2024•38 min
On September 2022, Cameron Kuklick fell from a motorized rental scooter while returning to his hotel after celebrating his brother’s wedding in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Cameron experienced a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the age of 30. Cameron and his family hope that by sharing their story and experiences, they too can provide hope and healing for others. In this week’s episode, Cameron joins Dr. Lauren Koffman and Dea Mahanes, DNP, APRN, CCNS, HEC-C, FNCS, who was on Cameron's care tea...
Oct 13, 2024•25 min•Ep. 141
In this week's episode of Perspectives , Dr Nicholas Morris is joined by NCS Past President, Dr Gretchen Brophy, Professor of Pharmacotherapy & Outcomes Sciences and Neurosurgery with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Pharmacy, Medical College of Virginia Campus, in Richmond.
Jul 17, 2024•51 min•Ep. 140
Electroencephalography (EEG) is an important and relatively inexpensive tool that allows intensivists to monitor cerebral activity of critically ill patients in real time. Seizure detection in patients with and without acute brain injury is the primary reason to obtain an EEG in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); and in response to the increased demand for EEG, advances in quantitative EEG (qEEG) created an approach to review large amounts of data instantly. Today, rapid response EEG is now availabl...
Jul 10, 2024•35 min•Ep. 139
The purpose of informed consent, as it exists now, is primarily to maintain patient autonomy, but additional benefits include the protection of patients, avoidance of fraud, and promotion of rational decisions, amongst others. It is now considered both an ethical and legal obligation which should, at a minimum, always include: 1) the nature of the procedure, 2) the risks and benefits of the procedure, 3) reasonable alternatives, and 4) risks and benefits of alternatives, with an assessment of co...
Jul 03, 2024•22 min•Ep. 138
It is unknown whether decompressive craniectomy improves clinical outcome for people with spontaneous severe deep intracerebral haemorrhage. The SWITCH trial aimed to assess whether decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment in these patients improves outcome at 6 months compared to best medical treatment alone. The SWITCH Trial has come to an end and the findings published in The Lancet and in this week's HOT TOPICS episode, Dr. Nicholas Morris is joined by two of the lead authors, P...
Jun 26, 2024•31 min•Ep. 137
Patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage who are receiving factor Xa inhibitors have a risk of hematoma expansion. The effect of andexanet alfa, an agent that reverses the effects of factor Xa inhibitors, on hematoma volume expansion had not been well studied, until the ANNEXA-I Trial. To discuss this week's Hot Topic, Nicholas Morris, MD is joined by one of the trial's collaborators, Ashkan Shoamanesh, MD as well as clincial pharmacist Andrew Webb, PharmD, BCCCP. Listeners can also join the...
Jun 19, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 136
In this week's episode of Perspectives , Dr Nicholas Morris is joined by Dr Monisha Kumar, FNCS, Professor of Neurology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to discuss the threats to diversity, equity, and inclusion in neurocritical care.
Jun 12, 2024•56 min•Ep. 135
As clinicians working with patients who have sustained an acute brain injury, we are naturally focused on caring for the injury itself. Until recent years, the clinical severity of brain injury was regarded as the main driver of prognosis and outcomes. However, we are beginning to understand how non-clinical factors, including the social determinants of health (SDOH), contribute to differential risk for all brain injuries including hemorrhagic stroke, and continue to impact our patients’ recover...
Jun 05, 2024•34 min•Ep. 134
For the latest episode in our Hot Topics series, Dr Nicholas Morris, FCNS is joined by Dr Jennifer Frontera, FNCS to discuss the NCS Guidelines for Seizure Prophylaxis in Adults Hospitalized with Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. Download the guidelines at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12028-023-01907-x .
May 29, 2024•37 min•Ep. 133
In this week's PERSPECTIVES episode, Dr Nicholas Morris is joined by Dr Daryl Gress, Professor of Neurological Sciences at the University of Nebraska to discuss Dr Gress' lessons learned while building a new neurocritical care unit and training program at UCSF.
May 22, 2024•42 min•Ep. 132
Post-intensive care clinics following admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) have gained significant traction in recent years across the United States and internationally. This movement has been driven by increasing recognition of the long-term sequela related to the experience of an ICU admission. This week, Dr Lauren Koffman is joined by Dr Matthew Jaffa and Dr Julia Carlson to discuss the landscape of post-neuroICU clinics and the impetus for their development and continuation.
May 15, 2024•32 min•Ep. 131
In May 2014 Elisabeth Beraquit fell through the faulty doors of an elevator into an empty shaft, landing 30 feet below on top of the elevator car. She suffered multiple traumatic brain injuries, including subarachnoid hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, and a diffuse axonal injury. 10 years on and Elisabeth is thriving, running her own business in Philadelphia and living her best life. In this week’s episode she and her sister, Sarah, join Dr Lauren Koffman to discuss Elisabeth's Story of H...
May 08, 2024•26 min•Ep. 130
In this week's episode, Dr Nicholas Morris is joined by Dr. Karen Hirsch and Dr. Teresa May to discuss their paper “Critical Care Management of Patients After Cardiac Arrest: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association and Neurocritical Care Society”. We discuss the difference between a scientific statement and a guideline, areas of uncertainty, and research priorities for the post-arrest patient. You can read the paper at https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.00000000000011...
May 01, 2024•43 min•Ep. 129
This week's Hot Topic is Intravenous Levothyroxine for Unstable Brain-Dead Heart Donors and Dr Nicholas Morris is joined by Dr Raj Dhar from Washington University School of Medicine to discuss his latest New England Journal of Medicine manuscript ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38048188/) .
Apr 24, 2024•55 min•Ep. 128
In this week's Master Class, Dr Stephan Mayer and Dr Jon Rosenberg are joined by Dr Krishna Rajajee to discuss non-invasive intracranial pressure monitoring
Apr 17, 2024•30 min•Ep. 127
In this week's episode, Dr Nick Morris is joined by Dr Jose Suarez to discuss the recently updated NCS subarachnoid hemorrhage guidelines. We compare them with the recently released American Heart Association subarachnoid hemorrhage guideline; and we discuss the purpose of guidelines in general and how guidelines map out priorities for research.
Apr 10, 2024•33 min•Ep. 126
In this week's episode, Dr. Nicholas Morris talks to Dr. Michael Rodricks (Immediate Past Chair of the NCS FNCS Credentialing Committee) and Dr. Jason Makii (NCS FNCS Credentialing Committee Chair-Elect) about the Fellowship in Neurocritical Care Society Designation. Listeners can learn what the FNCS designation means, how to apply, and how to maximize their chances of success.
Apr 03, 2024•21 min•Ep. 125
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is increasingly recognized as an essential skill for critical care providers, intended to enhance clinical assessments to improve patient care. Beyond its adaptation for procedural guidance, bedside ultrasound assessments can provide critical diagnostic information in a timely manner to guide real-time decision making for the acutely ill patient. An accumulating body of evidence has shown that POCUS can improve clinical outcomes and lower medical costs. Over the ...
Mar 27, 2024•18 min•Ep. 124
En este episodio especial en Español, el Dr. Luis Torres conversó con el Dr. Jose Javier Provencio acerca de los inicios de la campaña Curing Coma, sus metas iniciales, los retos que la campaña ha logrado superar y algunas colaboraciones internacionales con la campaña. Tambien hablamos acerca del Día Mundial del Coma y que pueden los participantes esperar este 22 de Marzo.
Mar 20, 2024•28 min•Ep. 123
