What’s new with stress ulcer prophylaxis in the ICU?
Critically ill patients are at risk of stress-related mucosal erosions. These are typically superficial and asymptomatic but may progress to ulceration and overt and clinically important gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding,... read more
The status of intensive care medicine research and a future agenda for very old patients in the ICU
The "very old intensive care patients" (abbreviated to VOPs; greater than 80 years old) are probably the fastest expanding subgroup of all intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Up until recently most ICU physicians... read more
Tight Glycemic Control in Critically Ill Children
In multicenter studies, tight glycemic control targeting a normal blood glucose level has not been shown to improve outcomes in critically ill adults or children after cardiac surgery. Studies involving critically ill children... read more
The Sick Bowel Obstruction Patient
A 68-year-old female presents to the ED with abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea which she states began this morning upon wakening about 3 hours prior to arrival. She appears moderately uncomfortable and pale. She is urgently... read more
Study Connects Maternal Response to Infection During Pregnancy with Increased Autism Risk
A new study adds to a growing body of research aimed at understanding how a mother’s body’s response to infection influences a growing fetus. In research published this week in mSphere, researchers at Columbia University... read more
Predicting HCAHPS scores from hospitals' social media pages
Social media is an important communication channel that can help hospitals and consumers obtain feedback about quality of care. However, despite the potential value of insight from consumers who post comments about hospital... read more
A Primer on the Perils of Intravenous Fluids – Part 2
Critically-ill patients all likely have endothelial dysfunction to some degree. resuscitationThis perturbation in microvascular physiology may be underpinned by abnormal glycocalyx structure and function. Sepsis, trauma,... read more
A Primer on the Perils of Intravenous Fluids – Part 1
The provision of intravenous fluids is no trivial intervention. Indeed, one eminent nephrologist has called for medical students to receive, not a 'white coat ceremony' at the outset of their education, but instead... read more
Prophylactic hydration to protect renal function from intravascular iodinated contrast material in patients at high risk of contrast-induced nephropathy
Between June 17, 2014, and July 17, 2016, 660 consecutive patients were randomly assigned to receive no prophylaxis (n=332) or intravenous hydration (n=328). 2–6 day serum creatinine was available for 307 (92%) of 332 patients... read more
Electronic Dura Mater Meddling in the Central Nervous System
This review of preclinical applications assesses the potential of the electronic dura mater to deliver electrical and chemical stimulation to targeted areas of the central nervous system for extended periods. Soft neural... read more
GERD Treatment May Reduce Healthcare Visits for Acute Respiratory Infections
Treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may help decrease healthcare visits for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). These are the findings of a new study published... read more
Pain Assessment in INTensive care (PAINT)
Pain is a common and distressing symptom experienced by intensive care patients. Assessing pain in this environment is challenging, and published guidelines have been inconsistently implemented. The Pain Assessment in INTensive... read more
Major publications in the critical care pharmacotherapy literature
The Critical Care Pharmacotherapy Literature Update (CCPLU) Group is composed of over 50 experienced critical care pharmacists who evaluate 31 peer-reviewed journals monthly to identify literature pertaining to pharmacotherapy... read more
Transfusion in Critical Care – UK Regional Audit of Current Practice
A consistent message within critical care publications has been that a restrictive transfusion strategy is non-inferior, and possibly superior, to a liberal strategy for stable, non-bleeding critically ill patients. Translation... read more
This Handheld Ultrasound Scanner Could Be the Next Stethoscope
Clarius co-founder and CEO Laurent Pelissier believes the affordable, wireless device could revolutionize health care. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Clarius ultrasound scanner for use in December 2016,... read more
Association of β-Blockers With Functional Outcomes After Acute Myocardial Infarction
This cohort study uses Minimum Data Set and Medicare claims data to assess the association of β-blocker use after acute myocardial infarction with functional decline, mortality, and rehospitalization among long-stay nursing... read more
Use of Lab Tests in Detecting Kidney Disease
This systematic review summarizes evidence supporting the use of laboratory tests for glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria to detect and stage kidney disease in adults. Detection and staging of acute and chronic kidney... read more
