Critical Care
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New Insights Into Alveolar Mechanics and Gas Exchange in Experimental Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Experimental acute respiratory distress syndrome was induced in mice to study local alveolar gas dynamics using advanced microimaging techniques. Heretofore unrecognized disturbances in alveolar ventilation will alter our understanding of alveolar mechanics and gas exchange dysfunction as well as promote the use of recruitment maneuvers.
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Swallowing Dysfunction in Critical Illness
Maintaining a high index of suspicion for the presence of possible swallowing dysfunction is key for the clinician.
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Electrical and Lightning Injuries
Although electrical injuries are rare, patients who present with these injuries to emergency departments pose particular challenges to emergency physicians and trauma surgeons.
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Delay in Performing Endovascular Reperfusion Results in Worse Disability Outcomes
In the past year, multiple clinical trials have reported that intra-arterial endovascular reperfusion with mechanical clot extraction, using the SOLITAIRE stent retriever device and others, results in better neurological outcomes than treating patients with intravenous thrombolysis alone with TPA. There is still uncertainty regarding the maximum time window, and how important early intervention is as related to neurological recovery and long-term outcomes.
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Spironolactone for Resistant Hypertension
Resistant hypertension is common, and the choice of additional drug therapy in this condition is not clear.
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Clinicians Are Skeptical of Early Warning Systems for Sepsis
Severe sepsis is very common, with high morbidity and mortality. Early recognition and intervention improves mortality. However, the diagnosis may often be missed in early sepsis. An academic health system developed an electronic early warning and response system for sepsis in 2012, monitoring real time vital signs and laboratory data for hospitalized, non-ICU, acute care patients and notifying clinicians when specific criteria were met. -
Bedside Ultrasound: Is It a Reliable Tool for Guiding Resuscitation in Patients with Undifferentiated Hypotension?
The use of bedside ultrasound has expanded tremendously over the last few decades. As it is readily available and relatively inexpensive, ultrasound provides the opportunity to examine hypotensive, critically ill patients, potentially leading to a faster, more accurate diagnosis.
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Sepsis Resuscitation and Mortality
The use of balanced salt solutions rather than isotonic saline or colloids may improve in-hospital mortality in patients admitted with septic shock.
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Early Chest CT Can Improve Treatment for Community-acquired Pneumonia
In patients with suspected community-acquired pneumonia, early chest CT significantly changed management decisions.
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Does a Sedation Strategy With or Without Daily Interruption Affect Recall of ICU Stay?
Recall of the ICU stay and the type of sedation strategy did not influence the types of memories reported by critically ill patients.