Table 1.

Reasons why we monitor patients with neurologic disorders who require critical care

Detect early neurological worsening before irreversible brain damage occurs

Individualize patient care decisions Guide patient management

Monitor the physiologic response to treatment and to avoid any adverse effects

Allow clinicians to better understand the pathophysiology of complex disorders

Design and implement management protocols

Improve neurological outcome and quality of life in survivors of severe brain injuries

Through understanding disease pathophysiology begin to develop new mechanistically oriented therapies where treatments currently are lacking or are empiric in nature