Neurocritical Care Society Podcast

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Perspectives series, host Nicholas Morris, MD, speaks with Jonathan Rosand, MD, MSc, FNCS, about his career in neurocritical care and his work to advance brain health. Dr. Rosand reflects on the mentors and bedside experiences that drew him to the field, as well as the curiosity and collaboration that have shaped his work as a neurointensivist, stroke geneticist and leader.
The conversation covers the growth of multidisciplinary care at Massachusetts General Hospital and the emotional demands of working in the neuroICU. Dr. Rosand discusses the importance of understanding patients' lives after critical illness and the potential for the neuroICU to serve as a starting point for long-term disease prevention and health promotion.
Drawing on his work in brain health, Dr. Rosand describes the Recovering Together program, the Brain Care Score and the Global Brain Care Coalition, along with the role of blood pressure control, lifestyle changes and patient agency in supporting long-term brain health. He also shares advice on mentorship, clinician-scientist careers and finding an individual path toward making meaningful contributions to the field.
The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the host and guest and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Rich Choi, MD, is joined by Chiara Robba, MD, PhD, to discuss the article "The Effects of Milrinone Systemic Administration on Cerebral Perfusion as Measured with Computed Tomography in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients," published in Neurocritical Care.
Their conversation explores the complex, multifactorial pathophysiology of delayed cerebral ischemia following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and the potential role of intravenous milrinone as a rescue therapy. They discuss how milrinone may influence both systemic and cerebral hemodynamics, as well as the role of CT perfusion imaging in evaluating cerebral blood flow and perfusion heterogeneity.
They also review findings from the retrospective study, including milrinone's association with increased cardiac index but not a consistent increase in cerebral blood flow. Among patients who did not develop delayed cerebral ischemia, cerebral perfusion became more spatially homogeneous as the milrinone dose increased. Dr. Robba explains why the distribution of cerebral blood flow may be more informative than its average value, the potential of perfusion heterogeneity as a marker of treatment response and why larger prospective studies are needed before these findings can inform changes in clinical practice.
The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Gisele Sampaio Silva about the Currents article, "Breaking Barriers: How Brazil's RESILIENT Trials Redefined Stroke Research in Latin America."
Sampaio Silva discusses how the RESILIENT trial demonstrated that mechanical thrombectomy can be delivered safely and effectively within Brazil's public health system. She explains why researchers needed to evaluate the treatment in a middle-income country with significant regional differences in hospital resources, prehospital transportation, imaging access and stroke care infrastructure.
The conversation also explores the partnerships and advocacy required to conduct the multicenter trial, including support from Brazil's Ministry of Health, international researchers and industry collaborators. Silva reflects on how the trial helped pave the way for the approval of mechanical thrombectomy within Brazil's public health system, the persistent gaps in access across the country and the importance of expanding international research partnerships to improve stroke care in resource-limited settings.
To read the full article, visit NCS Currents.
The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Currents series, host Lauren Koffman, DO, MS, speaks with Shraddha Mainali, Sahar Zafar and Brooke Murtaugh about their Currents article, "Neurocritical Care Disorders of Consciousness: Do We Have the Education We Need to Provide Care?"
The guests discuss the clinical spectrum of disorders of consciousness and the importance of accurately assessing patients using standardized bedside examinations, neuroimaging and other multimodal tools. They also examine the role of neuroprognostication in guiding conversations with families and ensuring that patients are given appropriate opportunities for recovery.
The conversation explores findings from a pilot survey on educational needs related to disorders of consciousness. The panel discusses barriers to care and education, including limited access to centralized resources, time constraints and knowledge gaps in assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. They also highlight the Curing Coma® Campaign's efforts to expand access to evidence-based education through webinars, online resources, World Coma Day and interdisciplinary global collaboration.
To read the full article, visit NCS Currents.
The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Rich Choi, MD, is joined by Eric Rosenthal, MD, to discuss the article "Surgical Intervention for Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus," a systematic review published in Neurocritical Care.
Their conversation explores why super-refractory status epilepticus can become increasingly difficult to control, the limited evidence guiding treatment after standard medical therapies have failed and how surgical approaches may fit into care for selected patients.
They also discuss the review's findings across 114 reported cases, including high rates of status epilepticus termination after surgical intervention, the distinction between terminating status and achieving long-term freedom from disabling seizures and the potential role of earlier multidisciplinary collaboration with epilepsy and neurosurgery teams. Dr. Rosenthal also emphasizes the importance of matching the intervention to the patient's underlying etiology, seizure localization and goals of care.
The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.