Stories Category: Intensive Care
Hydroxychloroquine or Azithromycin for COVID-19 Treatment
The use of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, or both were not associated with differences in in-hospital mortality. Cardiac arrest was more likely in patients receiving hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. In this retrospective,... read more
COVID-19: Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (POCUS)
Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is a relatively new technology that has evolved considerably over the last decade. The advantages of POCUS, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, include ease of use, bedside availability,... read more
The Utility of Diaphragm Ultrasound in Reducing Time to Extubation
Predicting the optimal time for extubation is challenging, especially in patients with underlying diaphragm dysfunction. Incorporating ultrasound information on diaphragm function into usual care allowed clinicians to identify... read more
Broad Spectrum Vasopressors
We propose the notion of "broad spectrum vasopressors" wherein patients with septic shock are started on multiple vasopressors with a different mechanism of action simultaneously while the vasopressor sensitivity is assessed.... read more
Global Effort to Collect Data on Ventilated Patients With COVID-19
As the new chair of the Asia-Pacific Chapter of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), John Fraser, MBChB, PhD, began talking with the group's members last November about why influenza affects some people worse... read more
The End-expiratory Occlusion Test
There is growing evidence that the end-expiratory occlusion (EEO) test reliably detects preload responsiveness. It is easier to perform than passive leg raising and has less limitations than pulse pressure variations, provided... read more
Critical Care Transport in the Time of COVID-19
Air ambulances and critical care transport providers are operationally-focused organizations that can play a critical role during pandemics. We have provided a short synopsis of our experience during the COVID-19 pandemic... read more
Risk Score for Development of Critical Illness in Patients with COVID-19
In this study, we developed a risk score and web-based calculator to estimate the risk of developing critical illness among patients with COVID-19 based on 10 variables commonly measured on admission to the hospital. Estimating... read more
An ICU Doctor on How We Can Emerge from the Storm Into a Place to Mend
As we emerge from the storm of preparation and uncertainty, where are we now but in a quiet place. A place to mend. A time to dream. For many the effects of lockdown have been devastating; there were never any easy choices... read more
Critical Care Clinician Reports on COVID-19
This national ICU clinician survey indicates that hospitals are expanding ICU bed capacity to prepare for coronavirus disease 2019 patient surge. Importantly, amid this preparation, ICU clinicians harbor concerns regarding... read more
Copeptin as a Marker of Outcome After Cardiac Arrest
Copeptin is an independent marker of severity of the post cardiac arrest syndrome, partially related to circulatory failure. 690 patients were included in the analyses, of whom 203 (30.3%) developed cardiovascular deterioration... read more
Preparing ICUs for COVID-19: an Australian Experience
In this article, we describe the response from our intensive care unit (ICU) within a large tertiary private metropolitan Australian hospital. We hope this information may be useful to other ICUs in Australia, for any second... read more
A Mass Casualty In Slow Motion: Emergency Medicine During the COVID-19 Surge in New York City
The first time I really took notice of coronavirus was when a few providers started wearing masks during their shifts. This was in mid-February when the virus was a Wuhan problem, and we were screening people with travel... read more
Hospitals Turn to Remote Monitoring Tools to Free Up Beds for the Sickest COVID-19 Patients
Desperate to free up beds for only the sickest COVID-19 patients, hospitals nationwide are weighing the use of new technologies to monitor patients from their homes. Physicians at several hospitals said their discussions... read more
A Guide To Designing Low-Cost Ventilators for COVID-19
The best medical treatment currently for COVID-19 is to simply assist the lung function with mechanical ventilation. Unfortunately hospitals are experiencing such huge influx of patients and do not have enough ventilators. This... read more
Can COVID-19 Cause Sepsis? Coronavirus Disease and Sepsis Relationship
On January 30th, the World Health Organization declared the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) a global health emergency, declaring it an "unprecedented outbreak." While the fears of a COVID-19 pandemic are legitimate,... read more
Use of Supraglottic Airways During COVID-19 Pandemic
This document is produced in response to questions about the use of supraglottic airways (SGAs) during the current pandemic. The advice that it contains is based on the expert opinion of airway specialists and is meant to... read more
