One of the main goals of monitoring neurologically ill patients is detection of secondary brain injury early enough to intervene to prevent permanent damage. In some patients with impaired levels of consciousness and those who require sedation, monitoring various brain physiologic parameters by invasive and noninvasive means has become an essential tool in the care of critically ill patients. Integration of multiple physiological parameters provides a more comprehensive physiological assessment of the injured brain and allows real-time, early detection of secondary cerebral injury and intervention to prevent permanent damage. Importantly, these modalities should be interpreted collectively and not in isolation in order to manage acute brain injuries, which are often complex and dynamic at the same time.
