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Neurocritical Care
Our Program
The Neurocritical Care Program at Keck Medical Center of USC in Los Angeles treats patients who have had acute brain or spinal cord diseases such as stroke, aneurysms, hemorrhages or are recovering from surgery of the central nervous system or spine, or of the ear, nose and throat. Our team is composed of subspecialists in neurocritical care who are experts in managing the unique level of care required by patients with life-threatening neurologic illnesses.
Our Approach
The Neurocritical Care team, utilizing a dedicated neurointensive care unit, is led by neurointensivists who are trained in intensive care practices for patients with nervous system disorders or injuries. The team closely coordinates its efforts, working with neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists and intensive care specialists who are working concurrently to manage neurological injury and speed up the patient’s recovery.
Conditions
Patients in the neurocritical care program at Keck Medical Center of USC in Los Angeles are often referred to the program from other physicians who determined the need for more advanced care. Many patients in the program are recovering from stroke, but the program team also treats other disorders requiring intensive care. Keck Medical Center of USC offers a highly specialized level of care and treatment for stroke and other cerebrovascular disorders, such as:
- Aneurysm
- Brain Tumors
- Infections of the brain and spinal cord
- Intracerebral hemorrhage
- Ischemic stroke
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Spinal cord trauma
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Symptomatic carotid occlusions
- Symptomatic vasospasm
- Traumatic brain injury
Treatments and Services
The multi-disciplinary team making up the Neurocritical Care Program at Keck Medical Center of USC can meet the needs of patients with acute stroke and other serious neurological and neurosurgical conditions by providing immediate, advanced treatment and neurocritical care.
Frequently, community hospitals will offer immediate, brain-saving treatment in their emergency departments and then transfer the patient to Keck Medical Center of USC for a higher level of care. Neurointensivists provide medical management for patients, while working alongside neurosurgeons and neurologist. Our patients have access to advanced treatments provided in other critical care locations at Keck Medical Center, if necessary, including:
- Endovascular procedures with or without intravenous tissue plasminogen (tPA) – can reopen blocked arteries
- Endovascular treatment of cerebral venous occlusion – can reopen blocked veins
- Endovascular angioplasty and stenting – may be inserted to maintain blood flow
- Surgical decompression for large cerebellar infarcts – can reduce swelling in the area of a blocked vessel, easing pressure on brain tissue
- Surgical decompression for large hemispheric strokes – an operation that can reduce swelling caused by large-scale strokes
- Extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery for symptomatic carotid occlusions – a surgical method that moves blood to an area affected by carotid artery blockage, by bypassing blood supply from outside to inside the cranium
- Treatment for subarachnoid hemorrhage / aneurysm – treats bleeding and swollen blood vessels in the brain
- Endovascular coiling of cerebral aneurysms – insertion of a catheter containing coils to the vessels of the brain and into the aneurysm. These coils are packed into the aneurysm, preventing blood flow from entering the aneurysm
- Surgical clipping of cerebral aneurysms – an operation in which the surgeon clips off the base of an aneurysm, preventing blood from entering the aneurysm
- Medical and endovascular treatment for symptomatic vasospasm
- Treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage
- Minimally invasive surgical hematoma evacuation – a number of techniques can drain bleeding on the brain’s surface, reducing pressure on brain tissue with minimal disruption of healthy tissue
- Carotid endarterectomy – surgical removal of plaque from the inner walls of the carotid (and other) arteries, reducing the risk of ischemic stroke
Patient Information
Patients admitted to the Neurocritical Care Program at Keck Medical Center of USC in Los Angeles will be treated by a coordinated team of neurologists, neuroradiologists, medical intensive care specialists and surgeons.
Patients who have recently suffered a stroke or are in need of critical care can be transferred to Keck Hospital of USC by our Rapid Transport Program. Upon arrival at our hospital, the patient is rapidly admitted to our neurocritical care unit dedicated to patients with severe brain or spine injuries where they can receive cutting edge multi-disciplinary care and have access to specialized procedures and surgeries as needed.
Clinical Trials
Patients have the option of taking part in clinical trials being conducted at Keck Medical Center of USC. Participation in clinical trials helps provide invaluable information for future treatments and possibly a cure in the future. Learn about neurocritical care clinical trials at Keck Medical Center of USC in Los Angeles here:
Evaluating Accelerated Resolution of Intraventricular Hemorrhage Phase III (CLEAR III)
Our Team
Arun Amar, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Endovascular Neurosurgery, Intracranial Pressure
Jordan Amar, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Lilyana Amezcua, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Neurology , Multiple Sclerosis
Rajan Preet Arora, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Frank Attenello, Iii, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Brain and Tumor Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor
Susan Axtell, PsyD
Medical Specialties
Clinical Psychology, Psychology , Headache Neurology, Neurology, Neurology
Christina Azevedo, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis
Ramzi Ben Youssef, MD
Medical Specialties
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Brain Injury and Stroke Rehabilitation, Spinal…
Shawna Benard, MD
Medical Specialties
Epilepsy Neurology, Neurology
Said Beydoun, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuromuscular Medicine, Pain Medicine
Sebina Bulic, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Vascular Neurology, Neurocritical Care, Telestroke
Margaret Burnett, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis
Paul-henri Cesar, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Headache Neurology
Jessica Chang, MD
Medical Specialties
Neuro-Ophthalmology, Oculoplastics, Dry Eye, Comprehensive Ophthalmology, Eye Thyroid Disease, Ophthalmology
Thomas Chen, MD, PhD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery, Brain Tumor, Brain and Tumor Neurosurgery
Janet Choi, MD
Medical Specialties
Otolaryngology, Neurotology
Frances Chow, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Brain Tumor
Helena Chui, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Brain Tumor
Lina D'orazio, PhD
Medical Specialties
Clinical Psychology, Neuropsychology, Psychology , Neurology
Leila Darki, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Clinical Neurophysiology, Neuromuscular Medicine
Joni Doherty, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurotology, Otolaryngology, Intracranial Pressure
Benjamin Emanuel, DO
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Brain Injury Medicine, Vascular Neurology, Neurocritical Care, Telestroke
Danielle Feigenbaum, MD
Medical Specialties
Movement Disorders Neurology, Neurology
Steven Giannotta, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Brain and Tumor Neurosurgery
Jeffrey Gluckstein, MD
Medical Specialties
Neuro-Ophthalmology, Intracranial Pressure, Eye Thyroid Disease, Ophthalmology
Kimberly Gokoffski, MD
Medical Specialties
Neuro-Ophthalmology, Strabismus, Intracranial Pressure, Eye Thyroid Disease, Ophthalmology
Hui Gong, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Marvin Gong, DO
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Francisco Gonzalez-scarano, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Neurology
Lauren Green, DO
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Headache Neurology
John Gruen, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery
Albert Han, MD, PhD
Medical Specialties
Head and Neck Surgery, Otolaryngology
Christianne Heck, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Epilepsy Neurology
Patrick Hsieh, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery
Jennifer Hui, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Movement Disorders Neurology
Elizabeth Joe, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Laura Kalayjian, MD
Medical Specialties
Clinical Neurophysiology, Neurology, Epilepsy Neurology
Kasra Khatibi, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Neurosurgery
Mellad Khoshnood, MD
Medical Specialties
Pediatrics, Neurology
May Kim-tenser, MD
Medical Specialties
Vascular Neurology, Neurocritical Care, Telestroke, Neurology
Niels Kokot, MD
Medical Specialties
Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Mark Krieger, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery
Jonathan Kuo, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Epilepsy Neurology
Grace Kuo, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Telestroke
Daniel Kwon, MD
Medical Specialties
Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Brian Lee, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Movement Disorders Neurology, Functional Neurosurgery, Neurology
Alexander Lerner, MD
Medical Specialties
Neuroradiology, Diagnostic Radiology, Headache Neurology, Intracranial Pressure, Neurology
Mark Lew, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Movement Disorders Neurology
Mark Liker, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery
Collins Liu, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Neurology
Charles Liu, MD, PhD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery
John Liu, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery
Patrick Lyden, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology
William Mack, Iv, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Interventional Radiology, Endovascular Neurosurgery, Intracranial Pressure
Masoud Majed, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Arousiak Maraian, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Behavioral Medicine
Xenos Mason, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Movement Disorders Neurology, Performance Arts Medicine
Carol Mccleary, PhD
Medical Specialties
Neuropsychology, Neurology
James Mccomb, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery
Ryan Mcginn, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Epilepsy Neurology
Gail Murdock, PhD
Medical Specialties
Clinical Psychology, Psychology, Psychology , Psychology , Psychology , Psychology…
Peggy Nguyen, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurocritical Care, Neurology, Telestroke
John Oghalai, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurotology, Otolaryngology
Andrew Petkus, PhD
Medical Specialties
Clinical Psychology, Psychology , Neurology
Giselle Petzinger, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Movement Disorders Neurology
Roy Poblete, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurocritical Care, Neurology
Johannes Pulst-korenberg, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Sandhya Ravikumar, MD
Medical Specialties
Headache Neurology, Intracranial Pressure, Neurology
John Ringman, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Memory and Cognitive Disorders Neurology
Rodrigo Rodriguez, Jr, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Neuromuscular Medicine
Jonathan Russin, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Endovascular Neurosurgery
Michael Safaee, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Spine Surgery
Soma Sahai-srivastava, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Neuromuscular Medicine, Headache Neurology, Pain Medicine
Nerses Sanossian, MD
Medical Specialties
Vascular Neurology, Neurocritical Care, Neuroimaging, Telestroke, Neurology
Jonathan Santoro, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Seiji Shibata, MD, PhD
Medical Specialties
Otolaryngology, Neurotology
Uttam Sinha, MD
Medical Specialties
Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Chelsea Stone, DO
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Headache Neurology
Mark Swanson, MD
Medical Specialties
Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
David Talavera, PhD
Medical Specialties
Clinical Psychology, Headache Neurology, Neurology
Emily Tamadonfar, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Movement Disorders Neurology
Liyang Tang, MD
Medical Specialties
Head and Neck Surgery
Fawaz Tarzi, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Matthew Tenser, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Vascular Neurology, Endovascular Neurosurgery, Telestroke
David Turk, MD
Medical Specialties
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neurology
Brian Walcott, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Endovascular Neurosurgery, Vascular Neurosurgery
Kecia Watari Knoell, PhD
Medical Specialties
Neuropsychology, Neurology
Ellen Wong, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Katherine Wong, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Movement Disorders Neurology
Tae Chan Yang, MD
Medical Specialties
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neurology
Gabriel Zada, MD
Medical Specialties
Neurosurgery, Brain and Tumor Neurosurgery, Brain Tumor
Kara Barton, LCSW
Medical Specialties
Licensed Social Worker, Social Worker , Neurology
Peony Bragg, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Neurocritical Care, Neurology
Jinseo Choi, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Nurse Practitioner, Neurology
Abby Gayle Comes, PA-C
Medical Specialties
Physician Assistant, Otology, Neurotology
Elmer Dorosan, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Nasrin Esnaashari, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Movement Disorders Neurology
Ana Gjurgevich, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Headache Neurology
Janet Greenwood, PA-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Epilepsy Neurology
Ronna Harris, LCSW
Medical Specialties
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Social Worker, Neurology
Jisoon Jang, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Nurse Practitioner, Neurology
Constance Kawai, RN
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Sawanee Lee, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Caroline Lopez, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Seng Ly, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Hawa Mapara, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Headache Neurology, Neurology
Tim Nguyen, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Roselou Perun, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Kathiria Plascencia, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Multiple Sclerosis, Headache Neurology, Neurology
Emily Rorden, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology
Freddi Segal-gidan, PA-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Memory and Cognitive Disorders Neurology
Amy Surnock, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Jessica Tamashiro, CCC-SLP
Medical Specialties
Speech-Language Pathology, Head and Neck Surgery, Otolaryngology
Leslie Tarlow, NP-C
Medical Specialties
Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis
Brenda Villegas, CCC-SLP
Medical Specialties
Speech-Language Pathology, Head and Neck Surgery