Critical Care Alert – May 1, 2009

May 1, 2009

• The One Thing Certain in the ICU Is Uncertainty

  While ICU clinicians understand that prognostic uncertainty is a normal part of critical care, it is unclear if surrogates hold similar views. In this study, Evans et al conducted semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 179 surrogates who had an adult patient in the ICU.

  Read more

• Non-invasive Ventilation in Acute Respiratory Failure: Importance of the Interface

  In the application of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in the management of patients with acute respiratory failure, Fraticelli and colleagues at Henri Mondor Hospital in Créteil, France, sought to determine the clinical effects of using interfaces with varying dead space and other features.

  Read more

• Pro-Con Perspective: Dexmedetomidine vs Midazolam for Sedating Mechanically Ventilated ICU Patients

  Editor's Note: The alpha2-receptor agonist dexmedetomidine (Precedex®), introduced for perioperative and procedural sedation and other short-term applications, is approved by the FDA for use in the ICU, although the package insert emphasizes that this approved use is for not more than 24 hours.

  Read more

• Special Feature: Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Concise Summary for the Non-cardiologist

  Patients with acute coronary syndrome present one of the most common admission diagnoses in the intensive care unit. For non-cardiology intensivists, the ever-evolving treatment algorithms present a challenging body of literature on which to remain current.

  Read more

• Pharmacology Watch: FDA Warning: Pharmaceuticals in "Natural" Products

  In this issue: Aspirin dose and cardioprotection; uncovering modafinil's abuse potential; proton-pump inhibitors and clopidogrel; FDA actions.

  Read more

• Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement

  Read more