Neeraj Badjatia led a workshop to teach Advanced Hemodynamics.
This workshop focused on the use of hemodynamic physiology
and therapy to provide optimal outcomes in TBI/Stroke/ SAH
patients with acute lung injury/ARDS and covered pulse contour
analysis with continuous cardiac output monitoring using PiCCO
and FloTrac, Non-Invasive Advanced Hemodynamic Monitoring
(NICOM). The emphasis was on cerebral perfusion optimization,
pharmacology and fluids in neurocritical care. The workshop also
covered hemodynamic therapy of the brain dead organ donor to
increase organ yield in these physiologically complex patients. The
“physiologic optimization program” was used to review real case
interactive simulation sessions in enhancing the understanding of
hemodynamics in neurocritical patients. The attendees found the
presentation and group sessions very helpful. This workshop was
supported by Cheetah Medical, Edwards LifeSciences and Getinge.
This year’s workshop, under the continued directorship of Neeraj
Badjatia, will bring more of this hand on experience to give an
opportunity to our members in becoming experts in resuscitation.
There are practical challenges in the acquisition, integration and
interpretation of multimodal monitoring data. Soojin Park led
the faculty team in the Applied Neuromonitoring workshop to
teach the attendees on how to overcome the technical hurdles to
the effective use of multimodal monitoring data comprising of
cerebral hemodynamics and EEG in multimodality monitoring
with emphasis on data exploration, and high resolution data
acquisition. This workshop provided a stepwise approach to the
practical implementation of managing and visualizing the data
from a multimodal neuromonitored patient, established through
real cases. There were facilitated computer skills sessions, to
introduce ICM+ software, CNS reader and R studio. The attendees
applauded this as a very well prepared session as the required
software and example data was provided as a download ahead
of the workshop on as a USB drive at the start of the conference.
This inaugural offering benefited from the generous support of
many industry partners, including Ornim Medical, Compumedics
DWL (TCD), Delica/Multigon (TCD), Moberg ICU Solutions,
Raumedic (PTO), Integra Lifesciences (ICP), Sophysa (ICP), Nonin
Medical (NIRS), and Hemedex (Bowman Perfusion Monitor). This
interesting workshop will return this year under the continued
directorship of Soojin Park.
An NP student attending the Advance Practice Providers workshop
directed by Susan Yeager commended the tremendous amount
of practical knowledge learned in this workshop. The workshop
was notable for the faculty’s passion for the field of neurocritical
care and their clinical expertise. The program is designed to
stretch APPs clinically and professionally helping them walk away
from a mental workout with new knowledge and skills that can
be directly applied to their clinical practice. This year will bring
back this workshop (under the direction of Lori Madden) geared
toward any advanced practice provider (e.g., nurse practitioner,
clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant) who is interested in
taking their practice to the next level.
Course director Ines Koerner put together a Ventilation
Management and Bronchoscopy workshop. This was a combined
workshop focusing on different aspects of mechanical ventilation
and hands-on teaching of bronchoscopy. The didactics on
ventilation management used the audience response system to
foster participation, and generated lots of discussion. A flipped
classroom model was utilized for teaching bronchoscopy, with
active learners having reviewed the didactic material (videos and
online simulator) before the meeting. The workshop time was
spent in facilitated hands-on experience. There was a broad range
of experience levels, and the faculty expertly endeavored to offer
an experience to suit everybody. The workshop was made possible
through the generous support of 3D Systems, Halyard Health and
Storz. This workshop will return this year under the continued
directorship of Ines Koerner, with a change in focus to basic airway
and bronchoscopy to meet popular demand.
An always popular and up-to-date offering, the pharmacotherapy
workshop did not disappoint. Director Jason Makii conducted
the Neurocritical Care Pharmacotherapy workshop. This course
covered the hottest topics in neurocritical care pharmacotherapy.
Expert pharmacists discussed therapeutic controversies,
challenging patient populations and innovative practices in a casebased
learning environment. This workshop will return this year
under the continued directorship of Jason Makii.
Intracranial Monitoring is a perennial favorite and was directed
this year by Josh Meadow. This workshop provided the
opportunity for attendees to learn to drill and insert various
intracranial monitors with facilitator guidance. There was didactic
teaching on indications for monitors, best anatomical approaches
to guide insertion and tunneling, troubleshooting procedures and
removal of intracranial monitoring devices. Attendees also received
teaching on data interpretation for brain tissue oxygen monitors,
cerebral blood flow monitoring and cerebral microdialysis. The
workshop was generously supported by Hemedex (Bowman
Perfusion Monitor), Integra Lifesciences, MDialysis and Raumedic.
It will return this year under the directorship of Amedeo Merena.
The Essential Skills of Running a Neuro-ICU workshop led by
director Kristine O’ Phelan taught attendees all the skills needed to
run a successful neuro-ICU. Faculty with a track record of setting
up successful units across the country shared their perspectives on
budgets, staffing, models, collaboration, negotiation and conflict
resolution. Many attendees applauded the ample access to the
presenters and the informal discussion that allowed them to
share or interact with each other and learn. While this workshop
is rotating off this year, look for this topic to be covered in the
conference symposiums and in future years’ workshops.
This year, the theme of the Annual Meeting is “Without Borders,”
with a focus on multidisciplinary groups and international
participation, and the conference will be held in Boca Raton,
Florida. Our pharmacotherapy and advanced practice providers
workshops are expanding, and we are introducing several new
offerings. There will be a workshop geared toward “Building
a Quality Improvement Program in the NICU” directed by
Debra E. Roberts and Casey Maureen Olm-Shipman. To amplify
the partnership with the international COSBID group, whose
conference will precede the NCS annual meeting, we are
offering, for the first time, a hands-on sessions entitled “Clinical
Monitoring of Spreading Depolarization,” led by Jed Hartings.
David Greer will lead a timely workshop on “Brain Death
Determination,” delving into the nuances of evaluating patients
for determination of death by neurological criteria. An innovative
new offering in medicine and law is a workshop entitled “You Are
Named in a Medical Malpractice Suit: Now What?” directed by
James Szalados.
We were sad to say goodbye to the remarkable Molly Moran from
the NCS executive office, who was instrumental in facilitating
the workshops. She has moved on to Northwestern to pursue a
graduate degree. We are excited to introduce Jordan Winn, who
has deftly taken over the role of education senior associate and
has been expertly supporting workshops in development for the
upcoming meeting. Preparations are already in full swing, so mark
your calendars for these opportunities. See you in Boca Raton!
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