Cardiac Complications in Patients Admitted to the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Patients admitted to the neuro-intensive care unit experience a number of cardiovascular complications. This is because of common risk factors exist between neurologic and cardiovascular diseases, and also the close interconnection between brain and heart, leading to an increased cardiovascular burden. Although the cardiovascular complications may or may not be clinically significant, the medical team should be aware of these instances, since such cardiac complications often result in fatal and irreversible outcomes. Particularly, unexpected cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, QT prolongation, and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy are common occurrences in the neuro-intensive care unit, and require careful attention. In this article, we review the incidence, clinical significance and management of such neuro-intensive care unit cardiac complications.

Keywords

• Intensive care unit
• Neuro-intensive care unit
• Complication
• Sudden cardiac death
• Takotsubo cardiomyopathy