Arterial Carbon Dioxide and Acute Brain Injury in VA-ECMO

Arterial Carbon Dioxide and Acute Brain Injury in VA-ECMO

Acute brain injury (ABI) occurs frequently in patients receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). We examined the association between peri-cannulation arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) and... read more

Point-of-Care Transcranial Doppler by Intensivists

Point-of-Care Transcranial Doppler by Intensivists

In the unconscious patient, there is a diagnostic void between the neurologic physical exam, and more invasive, costly and potentially harmful investigations. Transcranial color-coded sonography and two-dimensional transcranial... read more

Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH)

Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH)

For most patients, the best treatment seems to be high-quality supportive care. Aggressive interventions (e.g., causing dramatic drops in blood pressure and "prophylactic" hypertonic saline) may cause more harm than good. Cerebellar... read more

Reversal of Oral Anticoagulation in Patients with Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Reversal of Oral Anticoagulation in Patients with Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage

In light of an aging population with increased cardiovascular comorbidity, the use of oral anticoagulation (OAC) is steadily expanding. A variety of pharmacological alternatives to vitamin K antagonists (VKA) have emerged... read more

Novel Oral Anticoagulants and Trauma

Novel Oral Anticoagulants and Trauma

The number of anticoagulated trauma patients is increasing. Trauma patients on warfarin have been found to have poor outcomes, particularly after intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). However, the effect of novel oral anticoagulants... read more

Ten False Beliefs in Neurocritical Care

Ten False Beliefs in Neurocritical Care

1. Only neurointensivists should care about the brain. 2. Clinical examination of neurocritically ill patients is impossible. 3. We should no longer monitor ICP in traumatic brain injury (TBI). 4. The threshold to treat... read more

Association of ICH Among Patients Taking Non–Vitamin K Antagonist vs Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants With In-Hospital Mortality

Association of ICH Among Patients Taking Non–Vitamin K Antagonist vs Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants With In-Hospital Mortality

Among patients with ICH, prior use of NOACs or warfarin was associated with higher in-hospital mortality compared with no OACs. Prior use of NOACs, compared with prior use of warfarin, was associated with lower risk of in-hospital... read more

Major publications in the critical care pharmacotherapy literature

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