Neuro Criticalcare Unit

The postoperative ICU was built as an integral part of N 1 ward in 1952, and a portion of N 2 ward was set aside as a second ICU. This was not an ideal arrangement for several reasons, and was changed between 1995 – 97 when a 12 bed ICU was constructed in N 1 ward and the ICU in N 2 ward converted to a 6 bed high dependency area (HDA). Each admitting unit managed its patients in the ICU until 1995 when a separate cadre for Neurocritical Care was created.

An air-conditioned and well equipped intensive care was made available in 1960. With the expansion and sophistication of work it became necessary to enhance critical care facilities to ensure better safety for patients and to increase our ability to look after critically ill patients for a better outcome. This became possible with Dr. Mathew Joseph (CMC alumnus 1979-80 MBBS batch), who completed M.Ch Neurosurgery in CMC, opting to look after Neuro Critical Care. A separate section was established in 1995 with improved methods of recording, resuscitation and life support systems. The intensive care and high dependency units have developed into models of adopting the state of the art technologies at optimal costs. Dr. Shalini Nair, pulmonologist with critical care training, joined the intensive care unit as faculty in 2007.  Since 2010, this unit exclusively has a ward/ICU for management of traumatic brain injury and these patients are also followed up after discharge in Brain Injury Clinic that is organized with PMR unit. This has helped in ensuring better care for these patients. An international collaborative study on acute subdural haematoma in Traumatic brain injury is ongoing. The intensive care unit is also involved in management of critically ill patients from Neurology as well as Acute Stroke management.