Critical Care Alert
RSSArticles
-
Neuromuscular Blockade and Successful Endotracheal Intubation
Previous studies have shown the utility of neuromuscular blocking agents for endotracheal intubation in the operating room and emergency department. However, airway management in the ICU often involves unplanned, emergent intubations under suboptimal conditions. This study asked whether NMBAs improved first attempt success of intubations in the ICU. Additionally, these authors asked whether succinylcholine or rocuronium improved first attempt success and the effects of NMBA on intubations using video laryngoscopy.
-
Does Functional Ability Prior to an ICU Admission Influence Outcomes in Older Adults?
The impact of an older person’s functional status prior to experiencing hospitalization for a critical illness is difficult to determine. Given that ICU admission is generally an unplanned event, obtaining prospective evaluations of function prior to a critical illness or injury is almost impossible. Most evidence to date has utilized proxy reports for a patient’s functional status to determine what, if any, pre-ICU disability may have on an older adult’s outcomes after hospitalization for a critical illness or injury.
-
Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment of Delirium in the ICU
A review of the latest Society of Critical Care Medicine clinical practice guidelines.
-
A Guide to When and How to Stop CPR
In cardiopulmonary arrest situations, the mnemonic CEASE (Clinical features, Effectiveness, Ask, Stop, Explain), provides a guide for clinicians on how to discontinue resuscitative efforts and effectively communicate with other clinicians and families.
-
Survival in ARDS Can Be Predicted By Driving Pressure
Statistical models were applied to several large trials of ARDS patients undergoing lung protective ventilation strategies and found that decreases in driving pressure, or Δ P, were strongly associated with increased survival.
-
Multiple Factors Contribute to Recovery of Physical Function After Critical Illness
Physical function after critical illness is influenced by clinical, physiological, and psychological factors that suggest a need for comprehensive interventions to promote recovery and quality of life.
-
Nasal Screening for MRSA: The New Basis for De-escalation of Empiric Antibiotics?
The high negative predictive value of a negative nasal screen for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus suggests these patients do not have lower respiratory tract infections caused by the organism.
-
Post-ICU Stress Symptoms Are Associated with Increased Acute Care Service Utilization for at Least One Year
In this prospective, longitudinal study of adult medical-surgical ICU patients, in-hospital substantial acute stress symptoms were associated with a greater risk of rehospitalization within 1 year post-ICU discharge; those with substantial post traumatic stress disorder symptoms at 3 months post-ICU also had a greater risk of future emergency department visits within the year.
-
The Quandry Over Preventing Delerium in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
A significantly higher incidence of delirium was found in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
-
Communicating About Prognosis in the ICU
Effectively communicating a prognosis to a patient’s surrogates in the ICU can be challenging.