Beyond Liver Failure: MELD-XI Predicts Sepsis Mortality

This retrospective cohort study investigated the utility of the MELD-XI (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Excluding INR) score as a predictor of 30-day mortality in over 16,600 adult ICU patients with sepsis, using data... read more

Tags: creatinine, ICU, infection, lactate, research, sepsis, septic shock, SOFA, study,

Mechanical Ventilation in Emergency Medicine

This book discusses mechanical ventilation in emergency settings, covering the management of patients from the time of intubation until transfer to the ICU. It provides an introduction to key concepts of physiology pertinent... read more

Tags: ARDS, book, education, ICU, intubation, mechanical ventilation, ventilator,

Corticosteroids in ARDS: Delaying High-Dose Methylprednisolone Doesn’t Kill

This large retrospective study investigated whether starting high-dose (2 mg/kg) methylprednisolone therapy after 14 days of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) onset increased the risk of complications or mortality... read more

Tags: ARDS, corticosteroids, CPAP, ECMO, ICU, mechanical ventilation, sepsis, septic shock, steroids, VAP, ventilator,

Mechanical Ventilation in the ICU: A New Approach and Treatment

In the present book, a broad description of the processes carried out in patients with mechanical ventilation in the ICU is made. It covers from an overview of mechanical ventilation and some of its history to the processes... read more

Tags: book, extubation, ICU, mechanical ventilation, therapy, ventilation, weaning,

The Vitamin C Verdict: Not a COVID-19 Mortality Fix

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the efficacy of Vitamin C as a treatment for COVID-19, focusing on key patient outcomes like mortality and critical care resource utilization. Objective: To determine... read more

Tags: COVID-19, cytokine, ICU, mechanical ventilation, mortality, oxygenation, SOFA, study, vasopressors, vitamin C,

Defending the Vulnerable: Neutropenic Sepsis Outcomes Improve Despite Higher Risk

A decade-long, single-center study in a French ICU examined the characteristics and outcomes of 185 consecutive patients admitted with neutropenic sepsis or septic shock between 2012 and 2022. The analysis revealed a significant... read more

Tags: antibiotics, hyperlactatemia, ICU, infection, lactate, sepsis, septic shock, SOFA, study, vasopressors,

Clinical Examination Skills in the Adult Critically Ill Patient

This well-illustrated book provides detailed guidance on all aspects of physical examination in patients requiring emergency or intensive care. After an introductory section covering basic principles and the recognition of... read more

Tags: ARDS, book, education, ICU, infection, shock, trauma,

SOFA-2: Close, But Not Quite the Ideal Measure of Organ Failure

The SOFA-2 (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) score represents the latest effort to provide a simple, reliable, and continuous measure of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients, a concept first outlined decades ago.... read more

Tags: AKI, ICU, MODS, oxygenation, sepsis, septic shock, SOFA, vasopressin,

Management of Dysregulated Immune Response in the Critically Ill

This book, part of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) textbook series, deals with dysregulated host response a relatively new term introduced by the Sepsis-3 definitions in 2016. In contrast to systemic... read more

Tags: book, education, infection, inflammation, sepsis, SIRS,

Kidney Caution: The Polyuria Peril of Prolonged Sevoflurane in the ICU

This observational study investigated the renal impact of prolonged sevoflurane sedation in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients, focusing specifically on the incidence of polyuria (excessive urine output, defined as > 3000... read more

Tags: ICU, polyuria, sedation, sodium, study,

Voice Breakthrough: Bringing Speech Back to Ventilator Patients

This retrospective cohort study investigated the safety and success of placing a speaking valve in-line with the mechanical ventilator circuit for critically ill, tracheostomized patients who struggled to wean from the ventilator.... read more

Tags: Airway Management, ICU, mechanical ventilation, obesity, oxygenation, PEEP, study, tracheostomy, ventilator,

Intensivists Take the Tracheostomy Lead: The Bedside Imperative

The broader adoption of intensivist-led, bedside percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is the new standard of care in modern critical care. The evolution of PDT reflects the increasing procedural autonomy of intensivists... read more

Tags: COVID-19, ICU, PDT, tracheostomy,

NAC Dosing Dilemma: Balancing Better Outcomes with Higher Costs in Pneumonia

This study performed a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the use of two versus three dosage forms of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as an adjunctive mucolytic therapy for ICU patients with pneumonia. Study Summary and Key Findings... read more

Tags: ICU, infection, LOS, pneumonia, study,

Dexmedetomidine’s ICU Advantage: Faster Exit, Longer Stay?

This updated meta-analysis compared the outcomes of using dexmedetomidine versus other standard sedatives in mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis. Objective: To synthesize recent evidence (2020–2025) from Randomized... read more

Tags: dexmedetomidine, ICU, lactate, mechanical ventilation, sedation, sepsis, study,

The Sepsis Chain of Survival: Breaking the Cycle

This framework offers a systematic and adaptable approach to improving outcomes for patients with suspected sepsis. Borrowing from the successful Cardiac Arrest Chain of Survival, the Sepsis Chain emphasizes a seamless series... read more

Tags: antibiotics, ICU, monitoring, oxygenation, resuscitation, sepsis, septic shock,

Opioid Use in Critical Care: A Practical Guide

This book provides a concise yet comprehensive overview on the use of opioids in the ICU, offering practical, real-world recommendations on opioid utilization and alternative therapies. The text explains the physiology and... read more

Tags: analgesia, book, education, ICU, opioids, sedation, therapy,

The Crystal Ball of the ICU: Machine Learning Predicts Who’s Staying and Who’s Not

The PREMIER Study dove into the data of 996 patients experiencing Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure (AHRF) who had been on mechanical ventilation (MV) for at least two days, aiming to develop a reliable way to predict their... read more

Tags: AHRF, diagnosis, hypoxemia, ICU, mechanical ventilation, PEEP, SOFA, ventilation,

Gut Feeling vs. Data: SDD Doesn’t Beat Standard Care for Ventilated Patients

This multi-center trial, spanning 26 Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in Australia and Canada and involving over 20,000 critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation, put a long-debated practice, Selective Decontamination... read more

Tags: antibiotics, HAI, ICU, infection, mechanical ventilation, study, ventilation,

Non-invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Critical Care, Anesthesiology and Palliative Care

This book provides an easy, modern and practical way for physicians to approach the world of noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV). Noninvasive ventilation is well-established and increasingly used in routine clinical...

Technology in the ICU, An Issue of Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America

Dr. Wung is addressing an important component of critical care nursing: the role of technology in patient care. She has assembled top authors to provide current clinical information in the following areas: Sensory overload...