Phone: 800.678.HELP(4357)
Regardless of the primary diagnosis, neurological outcome is the main determinant of quality of life in critically ill children. The Pediatric Neurocritical Care Program (PNCP) at St. Louis Children’s Hospital provides diagnosis and treatment to critically ill children with neurological disorders. Such disorders include traumatic brain injury, the leading cause death and disability in children in the United States.
Specialized Care
Critically ill children with neurological disorders have unique needs. In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), patients are continually monitored by a dedicated neurocritical care team and receive individualized treatments designed to improve chances of recovery and protect uninjured nervous tissue. The primary goal of the PNCP is to provide excellence in clinical care by integrating the best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. The PNCP builds on the well established reputation of our top ranked Pediatric Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Critical Care Medicine programs.
A Multidisciplinary Team
Children suffering from critical illness, neuromuscular disorders, traumatic brain injury, and recovering from complex surgical procedures such as brain tumor resections require a high level of expertise that is best provided by a multidisciplinary team and specialized equipment.
Our team is composed of physicians, nurses and support staff with extensive experience and expertise in critical care, neurology and neurosurgery. Our team assures that every child admitted to the Intensive Care Unit has access to the best level of neurocritical care. The multidisciplinary nature of our team assures coordination with rehabilitation services and resources.
Interdisciplinary Translational Research
Improving outcome following neurological injury will profoundly impact quality of life for both children and their families.
The PNCP research efforts will result in improved care and novel therapies for critically ill children suffering neurological disorders. Research areas of focus include studies of the pathobiology of traumatic brain injury, stroke, seizures, and brain ischemia (i.e. cardiac arrest and drowning).
Our clinical research projects include assessments of injury mechanisms, response to current treatment strategies, as well as the evaluation of novel diagnostic technologies and therapies. Our research goals include the establishment of national and international collaborations in neurocritical care research. We are currently participating in a clinical trial of hypothermia for brain protection after traumatic brain injury (http://www.coolkidstrial.org/ ) The program’s mission adds to the already well-established reputation for excellence in neuroscience research at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University.
For more information: 314.286.1246 Dawn Rouse, Administrative Assistant