Neuro-Trauma and Critical Care

Rhode Island Hospital is a high-volume Level I Trauma Center for both adult and pediatric patients, serving the entire state of Rhode Island as well as southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Connecticut. The neurosurgery service is among the most experienced in the management of the full scope of traumatic brain and spine injuries. The Neurocritical Care Unit (NCCU) is an 18-bed unit directed by fellowship-trained neurocritical care faculty in collaboration with neurosurgeons, and is staffed by specialized critical care nurses dedicated to managing diseases of the brain and spine. The NCCU is one of the busiest units in the hospital, delivering care to patients with traumatic neurological injuries, acute cerebrovascular events, and acute peri-operative care for a variety of conditions. An adjacent stroke unit focuses on patients with non-life-threatening / non-surgical hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, under the direction of a subspecialty team.

These units provide cutting-edge care to patients with severe neurological illness at the hands of specialized neurosurgical, neurological and nursing teams, and utilize a variety of monitoring systems to track systemic physiology, intracranial pressures and neurophysiological function, as needed. Advanced imaging (MRI and CT) is available nearby, in the same building. These clinicians and resources ensure the best possible outcomes for patients in need of the highest level of neurocritical care.

Co-Directors

Neurocritical Care

Torrey Birch, MD
Thanujaa Subramaniam, MD

• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Traumatic Spine Injury
• Traumatic Nerve Injury
• Post-Traumatic Focal Seizures
• Post-Traumatic Spinal Cord Dysfunction

The division of Neuro-Trauma and Critical Care undertakes a variety of clinical trials to improve the health of our patients.

• The Center for Innovative Neurotechnology for Neural Repair is an RIH / Brown University DARPA-funded research laboratory focusing on functional repair of spinal cord injury.

• The Restorative Neuroscience Laboratory is dedicated to restoring nervous system function after injury, disease, and degeneration

• Epidemiological research on neurotrauma outcomes is carried about by a diverse group of students and clinicians utilizing the local trauma database as well as the National Trauma Databank.