Tag: diagnostics
Safe Performance of Echocardiography During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has become a worldwide healthcare emergency, with continuously growing number of infected subjects. Considering the easy virus spread through respiratory droplets produced with... read more
Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infections: Practical Considerations for Intensivists
On December 31, 2019, China reported cases of respiratory illness in humans appearing first in Wuhan, Hubei Province, that involved a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (aka 2019-nCoV). This new emergency is a zoonotic disease... read more
New Genomic Tests Aim to Diagnose Deadly Infections Faster
Rapid genomic tests are poised to change the way doctors diagnose and treat infections, but their cost may limit widespread use. Ryan Springer's mystery illness began last summer with a dull ache in his chest. Over the... read more
Clinically Significant Pleural Effusion in ICU
Clinically significant pleural effusion (PLEFF)—defined by a depth greater than or equal to 2 cm in a drainable location on thoracic ultrasound together with a potential adverse effect on patient progress—was detected... read more
Clinical Decision Support Systems: Future or Present in ICU?
Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are today, a reality. More complex, useful systems will be developed in the near future, forging CDSS an essential part of ICU monitoring. However, we need to understand the algorithms... read more
Clinical Practice Manual for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Clinical Practice Manual for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, by Judd W. Landsberg, MD, is a unique point-of-care manual that provides essential information on managing inpatients and outpatients with common, serious... read more
Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasonography and Chest Radiography in Adults With Symptoms Suggestive of ADHF
Standard tools used to diagnose pulmonary edema in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), including chest radiography (CXR), lack adequate sensitivity, which may delay appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Point-of-care... read more
A 10-Year Longitudinal Analysis of Protocol-Based Sepsis Management
This 10-year single-center retrospective cohort showed that the use of PB management of severe sepsis and septic shock was associated with a decreased hospital mortality for patients. This mortality benefit was preserved... read more
ED Management of Smoke Inhalation Injury in Adults
When treating patients who have suffered injury in a fire, managing their airway is as critical as treating their burns. Following on the February 2018 issue on Thermal Burns, this issue reviews strategies for diagnosing... read more
Echocardiographic Assessment of Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure in Ventilated Patients
TEE accurately predicts invasive PAOP ≤ 18 mmHg in ventilated patients. This further increases its diagnostic value in patients with suspected acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome. During two consecutive... read more
Clinical Assessment of Critically Ill Patients by Whole-body Ultrasonography
Critical care ultrasonography (CCUS) is increasingly advocated and used, and is defined as point-of-care image acquisition, interpretation and clinical application, all performed by the critical care clinician, and directed... read more
Every Patient Tells a Story: Medical Mysteries and the Art of Diagnosis
A riveting exploration of the most difficult and important part of what doctors do, by Yale School of Medicine physician Dr. Lisa Sanders, author of the monthly New York Times Magazine column "Diagnosis," the inspiration... read more
Causes and Consequences of Optimistic Expectations About Prognosis by Surrogate Decision-Makers in ICUs
This multicenter study shows that optimistic expectations about prognosis are prevalent among surrogates of patients with advanced critical illness, arise both from misunderstandings by surrogates and from surrogates holding... read more
Comparison of Diagnostic Accuracy Among Procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and Interleukin 6 for Blood Culture Positivity in General ICU Patients
Despite various technological advances, it still usually takes at least 24 to 48 h to obtain a blood culture result. The subsequent delays in diagnosis and treatment of infection can negatively impact care in the intensive... read more
Identification of Subclasses of Sepsis that Showed Different Clinical Outcomes and Responses to Amount of Fluid Resuscitation
Sepsis is a heterogeneous disease and identification of its subclasses may facilitate and optimize clinical management. This study aimed to identify subclasses of sepsis and its responses to different amounts of fluid resuscitation.... read more
Department-Based ICU Improves Patient Survival Rates
A new Michigan Medicine study found that implementing a dedicated emergency medicine department-based intensive care unit improved patient survival rates and lowered inpatient intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. In the... read more