New Program Enhances Neurologic Care for Critically Ill Children

Critically ill children can be at heightened risk for neurological injury, but the signs are not always obvious. A new Neurocritical Care Program at Cincinnati Children’s provides early consults from a team of pediatric neurologists, neurosurgeons and intensivists.

The multidisciplinary program is led by pediatric neurologists Eileen Broomall, MD, who is fellowship trained in pediatric neurocritical care, and J. Michael Taylor, MD. As it grows, Dr. Broomall says she expects about 20 percent of patients admitted to the ICU and CICU to receive a neurocritical care consult. Good candidates include patients who:

• Are hospitalized with an acute neurologic injury, such as a stroke, meningitis or encephalitis;
• Are experiencing issues related to a chronic neurological condition, such as epilepsy;
• And those who are receiving care for a systemic illness, such as respiratory failure and cancer, and may be at risk for neurologic complications.

“Specialists in our program round out the care team, providing early detection of neurologic injury and expedient interventions,” says Dr. Broomall. “These consults allow us to be helpful earlier in the course of care, often before there is a clear neurologic problem.”

Neurocritical care consults are common in many hospital ICUs and CICUs, but this program formalizes care protocols so that our pediatric specialists know when to request a consult and how their patients might benefit. Drs. Broomall and Taylor are starting a follow-up neurocritical care clinic this summer.

To learn more about this program, please email Eileen Broomall.