Neurocritical Care Society Podcast

Latest Episodes:

HOT TOPICS: The Neuro-ARC Study on Levetiracetam Dosing Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Richard Choi, DO, FNCS, is joined by Melissa Dang, PharmD, BCCCP, neurocritical care pharmacist at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, to discuss the article "Levetiracetam Dosing Optimization in Neurocritical Care Population: Neuro-ARC Study", recently published in Neurocritical Care.

Their conversation explores how augmented renal clearance may reduce levetiracetam exposure in neurocritical care patients and the implications for seizure management in clinical practice. Dr. Dang breaks down the study's pharmacokinetic modeling, highlights key dosing findings and reviews the patient factors most strongly associated with increased drug clearance. She also discusses the study's limitations and emphasizes the need for caution when applying its findings across broader clinical settings. The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

MASTERCLASS: How to Run a Clinical Trial Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the Neurocritical Care Society Podcast Masterclass series, hosts Stephan Mayer, MD, FCCM, FNCS, and Jon Rosenberg, MD, are joined by Hooman Kamel, MD, MS, professor of neurology at Weill Cornell Medicine, to discuss how clinical trials take shape in practice. Dr. Kamel reflects on his path into research, the importance of strong mentorship and what it takes to grow from early-stage projects to large multicenter trials. Their conversation explores practical aspects of trial design in neurocritical care, including building robust data sets, leveraging EMR-based tools, designing pragmatic studies and fostering collaboration across institutions. They also discuss the Arcadia trial and the broader mindset required to stay engaged in research, even when results do not go as expected. The views expressed on the NCS Podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official positions of the Neurocritical Care Society.

HOT TOPICS: Prophylactic Antiseizure Medication in Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of the NCS Podcast Hot Topics series, host Richard Choi, DO, FNCS, is joined by Wendy Ziai, MD, professor of neurology and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins University, to discuss the article "Prophylactic Anti-Seizure Medication in Patients with Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage", recently published in Neurocritical Care.

Their conversation explores the ongoing debate surrounding prophylactic antiseizure medication use in patients with lobar intracerebral hemorrhage. They review current guideline recommendations, highlight limitations in the existing evidence and consider the challenge of balancing seizure prevention with the risk of adverse effects.

Dr. Ziai reviews key findings from prior trials as well as the featured study, which demonstrated lower rates of early seizures among patients who received prophylaxis. She also addresses questions related to patient selection, nonconvulsive status epilepticus and long-term cognitive outcomes. The discussion further considers the role of continuous EEG monitoring in the first 48 hours and how future study designs may help clarify which patients, if any, are most likely to benefit.