What's new in neurological intensive-care medicine?

Neurocritical care has begun with artificial ventilation during poliomyelitis epidemics during the late 40s and the early 50s, and was established as a defined subdisciplin in the 80s. Presently, the most important developments seem to be improved diagnosis of inflammatory diseases by PCR, use of evoked potentials, improved doppler ultrasound techniques, and improved ICP monitoring. New therapeutic tools are thrombolysis in stroke, surgical decompression in malignant brain edema, and immunosuppression by high-dose intravenous immunogloblin therapy.