Mechanical Power: Meaning, Uses and Limitations

Mechanical Power: Meaning, Uses and Limitations

Ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) carries significant attributable mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Even though all the ventilatory variables contribute to VILI, current guidelines focus almost... read more

Delirium Prevention in the ICU: Melatonin or Ramelteon

Delirium Prevention in the ICU: Melatonin or Ramelteon

Melatonin modulates the circadian rhythm and has been studied as a preventive measure against the development of delirium in hospitalized patients. Such an effect may be more evident in patients admitted to the ICU, but findings... read more

Ultrasound-Guided Infraclavicular Axillary Vein vs. Internal Jugular Vein Cannulation in Critically Ill Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Ultrasound-Guided Infraclavicular Axillary Vein vs. Internal Jugular Vein Cannulation in Critically Ill Mechanically Ventilated Patients

No difference was found between the real-time ultrasound-guided out-of-plane cannulation of the IJV and the infraclavicular real-time ultrasound-guided in-plane cannulation of the AXV. Both techniques are equally efficient... read more

Early evaluation of heart rate variability can predict the outcome of patients in the ICU

Early evaluation of heart rate variability can predict the outcome of patients in the ICU

The study evaluated the use of heart rate variability (HRV) to predict the outcome of patients in the ICU. HRV is a way to evaluate the cardiac effects of the autonomic nervous system, and a relation between HRV and outcome... read more

A Guide to Mechanical Circulatory Support: A Primer for Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Clinicians

A Guide to Mechanical Circulatory Support: A Primer for Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Clinicians

This unique book details a multidisciplinary approach for providers caring for the Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) patient. Authors discuss the history of MCS, patient selection, surgical and post-operative care, mobility... read more

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Adults (Respiratory Medicine)

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Adults (Respiratory Medicine)

This new edition presents an evidence-based review of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for adults, with a particular focus on veno-venous (VV) ECMO. Due to the dramatic impact of COVID-19, the number of institutions... read more

Pros and Cons of Disconnecting the Ventilator During Acute Respiratory Decompensation

Pros and Cons of Disconnecting the Ventilator During Acute Respiratory Decompensation

Disconnecting the ventilator and manual BMV should be performed in cases where device malfunction is the primary cause of decompensation. These instances are quite rare. Disadvantages of switching to BMV include loss of... read more

Mechanical Ventilation: For Fun and Benefit

Mechanical Ventilation: For Fun and Benefit

Illustrated and explained simply this book is for anyone that works in an intensive care unit - residents, pulmonary/critical care fellows, therapists, or nurses who wants a better understanding of mechanical ventilation. Easy... read more

Mechanical Ventilation for the ICU Resident: A Concept Based Approach

Mechanical Ventilation for the ICU Resident: A Concept Based Approach

This book is written primarily with the intent of helping medical residents understand the basics of mechanical ventilation. It is meant to be read during a one-month rotation in the ICU. It is a compilation of concepts... read more

Clinical Application of Mechanical Ventilation

Clinical Application of Mechanical Ventilation

Fundamental concepts of respiratory physiology and the day-to-day duties of a respiratory care professional. Utilizing the wide degree of topics covered, including airway management, understanding ventilator waveforms,... read more

Lung and Diaphragm Protective Ventilation Guided by the Esophageal Pressure

Lung and Diaphragm Protective Ventilation Guided by the Esophageal Pressure

Lung protective ventilatory strategies aim to limit tidal volume, driving pressure and plateau pressure to minimize lung stress and strain and consequently reduce the morbidity and mortality risks associated with mechanical... read more

Care Step Pathway an Effective Tool For Clinicians Caring for Mechanical Ventilated COVID-19 Patients

Care Step Pathway an Effective Tool For Clinicians Caring for Mechanical Ventilated COVID-19 Patients

The Care Step Pathway (CSP) described in this article was developed to increase awareness of the potential association of SARS-CoV-2 infection with invasive fungal infections, particularly pulmonary aspergillosis. The... read more

Dexmedetomidine vs. Propofol Sedation in Critically Ill Adults Requiring Mechanical Ventilation

Dexmedetomidine vs. Propofol Sedation in Critically Ill Adults Requiring Mechanical Ventilation

Dexmedetomidine did not significantly impact ICU length of stay compared with propofol, but it significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation and the risk of delirium in cardiac surgical patients. It also significantly... read more

Protective Ventilation

Protective Ventilation

As ventilator induced lung injury (VILI) importantly impacts outcome of mechanically ventilated patients, even in those without lung injury, it follows that those caring for the critically ill should apply protective ventilatory... read more