Neurosurgical postoperative care.

The goals of postoperative neurosurgical intensive care are early detection of neurologic deterioration and maintenance or reestablishment of systemic and neurologic homeostatsis. Encompassed within these goals is an effort to prevent postoperative complications or to minimize their impact once they have occurred. This article focuses on postoperative care following intracranial surgery. Criteria for admission to the intensive care unit are discussed.