Critical Care
RSSArticles
-
Trajectory of Physical Function Recovery May Help Inform Prognosis for Survivors of Acute Respiratory Failure
There are several distinct trajectories of recovery after acute respiratory failure. The group with the highest physical function consisted primarily of younger women who experienced less continuous sedation time and shorter ICU length of stay.
-
Impact of Early Low-Dose Norepinephrine in Adults Experiencing Sepsis With Hypotension
Adult patients experiencing sepsis with hypotension but who did not meet the definition of septic shock received a median of 800 mL of intravenous fluid prior to initiation of norepinephrine 0.05 mcg/kg/min as a non-titratable infusion. Patients in this early vasopressor group had much lower odds of failing to achieve their primary outcome of adequate mean arterial pressure and tissue perfusion when early norepinephrine was provided.
-
Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia: What’s the Latest?
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia is an iatrogenic, potentially life-threatening complication that occurs after exposure to heparin therapy in hospitalized patients. Early recognition and timely initiation of treatment are critical for improved prognosis.
-
Reader Survey Available
We'd love to hear from you how we can do better!
-
Efficacy of Preoxygenation Methods Prior to Endotracheal Intubation
A post-hoc analysis of data from the MACMAN trial revealed noninvasive ventilation may be the preferred preoxygenation approach for intubation, especially in the setting of severe hypoxemia.
-
Medication Errors When Patients Transition Out of ICU
Three factors associated with decreased odds of an error occurring were daily patient care rounds in the ICU, discontinuing and rewriting medication orders during the transition of care from the ICU to a non-ICU setting, and 16-20 ICU beds in the transferring ICU.
-
Timing of Initiation of Renal Replacement Therapy in the ICU
Acute kidney injury is common in patients admitted to the ICU and is associated with high mortality. The decision to initiate renal replacement therapy (RRT) for these patients is complicated. Not only is the optimal time for starting therapy unclear, decisions to transfer patients to higher levels of care often are driven by the perceived need to initiate hemodialysis or continuous RRT.
-
Shocking Injuries: Knowing the Risks and Management for Electrical Injuries
Approximately 5,000 patients present to the emergency department each year for evaluation and treatment of electrical injuries. This article will discuss the different classifications of electrical exposures and describe the recommended initial evaluation, diagnostic workup, and treatment. In addition, the authors also discuss special situations, such as lightning exposures, pediatric exposures, and electrical exposures during pregnancy.
-
Physicians Cannot Agree on Who Benefits From ICU Care
The authors of a study randomizing U.S. critical care physicians to analyze hypothetical patient vignettes found that estimates of whether a patient would benefit from ICU care were widely dissimilar among those surveyed and influenced by factors unrelated to severity of illness.
-
Maintaining Oxygenation Without Increasing Aspiration Risk During Induction
In this multicenter, randomized, unblinded trial, bag-mask ventilation from time of induction to laryngoscopy was associated with higher oxygen saturations and lower incidence of severe hypoxemia compared to those not “bagged.”