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

Use of Supraglottic Airways During COVID-19 Pandemic

In the Fight to Treat Coronavirus, Your Lungs Are a Battlefield

Ventilators have become the single most important piece of medical equipment for critically ill coronavirus patients whose damaged lungs prevent them from getting enough oxygen to vital organs. The machines work by forcing... read more

In the Fight to Treat Coronavirus, Your Lungs Are a Battlefield

How COVID-19 Causes ARDS

As the COVID-19 outbreak continues, we're learning more about the disease, what it does to the body and the damage it causes. Although many people with COVID-19 have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, a subset of patients... read more

How COVID-19 Causes ARDS

CDC Launches Investigation Into Surge Of Severe Lung Disease Cases Linked To Vaping

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating the sudden emergence of severe lung disease linked to vaping in 14 states. CDC is providing consultation to the departments of health in Wisconsin,... read more

CDC Launches Investigation Into Surge Of Severe Lung Disease Cases Linked To Vaping

How Best to Set the Ventilator on Extracorporeal Membrane Lung Oxygenation

Mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal support are marginally integrated. The best environment for lung healing – complete lung collapse or protective ventilation strategy or fully open and immobile lung (all three conditions... read more

How Best to Set the Ventilator on Extracorporeal Membrane Lung Oxygenation

Age and Decisions to Limit Life Support for Patients with ALI

The purpose of this study was to estimate the association between patient age and the rate of new limitations in the use of life support, independent of daily organ dysfunction status, following acute lung injury (ALI) onset. 490... read more

Age and Decisions to Limit Life Support for Patients with ALI

ARDS Survivors Often Leave ICU with Prolonged PICS

Patients who survive acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) often leave ICU with debilitating mental, physical, or cognitive problems that may limit their quality of life. These challenges are called post-intensive care... read more

ARDS Survivors Often Leave ICU with Prolonged PICS

Ultrasound as a Screening Tool for Central Venous Catheter Positioning and Exclusion of Pneumothorax

Although real-time ultrasound guidance during central venous catheter insertion has become a standard of care, postinsertion chest radiograph remains the gold standard to confirm central venous catheter tip position and rule... read more

Ultrasound as a Screening Tool for Central Venous Catheter Positioning and Exclusion of Pneumothorax

Initial Trophic vs Full Enteral Feeding in Patients With Acute Lung Injury

In patients with acute lung injury, compared with full enteral feeding, a strategy of initial trophic enteral feeding for up to 6 days did not improve ventilator-free days, 60-day mortality, or infectious complications but... read more

Initial Trophic vs Full Enteral Feeding in Patients With Acute Lung Injury

The Encore: A Memoir in Three Acts

The remarkable true story of acclaimed opera singer Charity Tillemann-Dick, who received not one but two double lung transplants and went from struggling to draw a single breath to singing at the most prestigious venues in... read more

The Encore: A Memoir in Three Acts

The 16-year-old Girl Who Walks and Eats Tacos While on Life Support

In November, the otherwise healthy teen was placed on life support in the pediatric intensive care unit at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Now, more than 130 days later, Zei's determination and independence have... read more

The 16-year-old Girl Who Walks and Eats Tacos While on Life Support

TAC on Computed Tomography and the Risk of COPD Progression

Total Airway Count (TAC) may reflect the airway-related disease changes that accumulate in the “quiet” zone in early/mild Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), indicating that TAC acquired with commercially available... read more

TAC on Computed Tomography and the Risk of COPD Progression

Calcium induces chronic lung infections

Researchers have now discovered that calcium induces the switch from acute to chronic infection. One of the most serious pathogens is the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which frequently causes hospital infections and is... read more

Calcium induces chronic lung infections

Higher PEEP versus Lower PEEP Strategies for Patients with ARDS

Use of higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is unlikely to improve clinical outcomes among unselected patients with ARDS. We identified eight randomized trials comparing higher versus lower PEEP strategies, enrolling... read more

Higher PEEP versus Lower PEEP Strategies for Patients with ARDS

Ultrasound-guided Mechanical Ventilation

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is now a tool used worldwide, integrating clinical assessment of the critically ill. In this review, we focus on lung, diaphragm and cardiac ultrasound in the management of the mechanically... read more

Ultrasound-guided Mechanical Ventilation

Aerosol Delivery During Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

Lung deposition was lower than 20% of nominal dose delivered with nebulizers and mostly occurred in proximal airways. Further studies are needed to link substantial concentrations of antibiotics in infected pulmonary fluids... read more

Aerosol Delivery During Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

The World Day of the Critical Lung Event

On November 17th 2017, the first edition of "The World Day of the Critical Lung" will be held. It will be an online, global, free, bilingual (Spanish and English) participatory and non-profit event organized by the Pan American... read more

The World Day of the Critical Lung Event

4m-gait speed test reliable/valid physical function measure in ARDS survivors

The 4-m gait speed is a reliable, valid, and responsive measure of physical function in acute respiratory distress syndrome survivors. The estimated minimal important difference will facilitate sample size calculations for... read more

4m-gait speed test reliable/valid physical function measure in ARDS survivors

The Overlaps of Asthma or COPD with OSA

Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are the most common respiratory disorders worldwide. Given demographic and environmental changes, prevalence for each is likely to increase. Some... read more

The Overlaps of Asthma or COPD with OSA

Utility and Diagnostic Accuracy of Bedside Lung Ultrasonography During MET

Lung ultrasonography can be rapidly performed in the majority of patients with MET activation for respiratory deterioration. As an independent diagnostic test, lung ultrasonography is non-inferior to the medical emergency... read more

Utility and Diagnostic Accuracy of Bedside Lung Ultrasonography During MET

Acute Lung Failure – Our Evolving Understanding of ARDS

Since Laennec described the gross pathology of idiopathic anasarca of the lungs in 1821, mortality due to the acute respiratory distress syndrome has been vastly reduced. Yet the poor subsequent condition of ARDS survivors... read more

Acute Lung Failure – Our Evolving Understanding of ARDS