The neurointensive care field emerged as a separate medical speciality in the 1980s, driven by the development of new monitoring tools. The most important goal of neurointensive care is avoiding secondary brain injuries or detecting them in time to implement effective treatment. Understanding cerebral metabolism is key in the care of neurocritical patients, and continuous monitoring through intracerebral microdialysis allows for differentiation of different pathological mechanisms, in turn catalysing development of novel treatments.