Critical Hemoglobin Desaturation Will Occur before Return to an Unparalyzed State following 1 mg/kg Intravenous Succinylcholine

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) difficult airway algorithm recommends that if initial attempts at tracheal intubation after the induction of general anesthesia are unsuccessful, the practitioner should "consider... read more

Critical Hemoglobin Desaturation Will Occur before Return to an Unparalyzed State following 1 mg/kg Intravenous Succinylcholine

Functional Status Change Among Children With ECMO to Support Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in a Pediatric Cardiac ICU

This is the first extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation report to examine changes in Functional Status Scale from admission (baseline) to discharge as a measure of overall functional outcome. Half of surviving patients... read more

Functional Status Change Among Children With ECMO to Support Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in a Pediatric Cardiac ICU

Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist

Several studies nowadays prove the physiological benefits of neurally adjusted ventilatory assist, as opposed to the conventional modes of partial support. Whether these advantages translate into improvement of clinical outcomes... read more

Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist

Guidelines for the Management of Tracheal Intubation in Critically Ill Adults

These guidelines describe a comprehensive strategy to optimize oxygenation, airway management, and tracheal intubation in critically ill patients, in all hospital locations. They are a direct response to the 4th National... read more

Guidelines for the Management of Tracheal Intubation in Critically Ill Adults

Rapid Sequence Intubation With Video Laryngoscopy Common for Difficult Airways

Predicted difficult airways in one emergency department are managed most often using rapid sequence intubation (RSI) and video laryngoscopy (VL), a recent study has found. Although difficult airways occur frequently in emergency... read more

Rapid Sequence Intubation With Video Laryngoscopy Common for Difficult Airways

A Nightmare Airway with Rob Bryant

In terms of airway management, cricothyrotomy is one of the most advanced airway procedures an ED physician will perform. It is a last resort procedure when a patient is not able to be ventilated/oxygenated and/or intubated.... read more

A Nightmare Airway with Rob Bryant

The Answer My Friend is Blowin’ in your Nose – High Flow Nasal Oxygen

High flow nasal oxygen is a novel device that actively humidifies and heats air to make flows of up to 60 liters a minutes tolerable. These incredibly high flows are important, because in order to provide 100% fiO2 to patients... read more

The Answer My Friend is Blowin’ in your Nose – High Flow Nasal Oxygen

A Basic Approach to Treating Various Types of Hypoxia

The use of supplemental oxygen is of no value when treating stagnant and histotoxic hypoxia because the problem is due to impaired cardiac function and cell enzyme inhibition respectfully. Supplemental oxygen is of little... read more

A Basic Approach to Treating Various Types of Hypoxia

Oxygen: Savior or Devil in a Green Dress?

If you ask any small child what doctors do or what happens in a hospital, you'll probably get some variation of "they make sick people better." Were you to ask the same question of one of those doctors or someone working... read more

Oxygen: Savior or Devil in a Green Dress?

Resuscitation Sequence Intubation – Hypoxemia Kills

This blog post is the second part of a series of 3, on a recent lecture I was asked to give on Critical Care Updates: Resuscitation Sequence Intubation. This talk was mostly derived from a podcast by Scott Weingart (Twitter:... read more

Resuscitation Sequence Intubation – Hypoxemia Kills

ECMO – How can I make the best referral?

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ECMO is one of those treatments we sometimes need to think about with our very sick patients. I recently had to make a referral to my local centre and doing so made me wonder what it... read more

The A1 Sedation Package: Better Care for Intubated Patients

You are called to the scene of a 56-year-old male found unresponsive in his garage workshop. Upon examining him you find him minimally responsive to painful stimulus, moaning and groaning. His family tells you he has high... read more

The A1 Sedation Package: Better Care for Intubated Patients

Techniques for the Difficult Airway

A systematic approach to intubation that emphasizes planning and teamwork can reduce intubation complications. Early use of an EGA or cricothyroidotomy may reduce complications when oxygenation is inadequate. Use of a gum... read more

Techniques for the Difficult Airway

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

Apneic Oxygenation in the ICU

Hypoxemia is the most common complication of endotracheal intubation in the critically ill and the strongest risk factor for periprocedural cardiac arrest and death. The traditional approach to avoiding desaturation during... read more

Apneic Oxygenation in the ICU

Isolated Left Ventricular Failure is a Predictor of Poor Outcome in Patients Receiving Veno-Arterial ECMO

Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (va-ECMO) is increasingly and successfully used to assist patients with refractory cardiogenic shock from different causes. A total of 132 va-ECMO patients were enrolled.... read more

Isolated Left Ventricular Failure is a Predictor of Poor Outcome in Patients Receiving Veno-Arterial ECMO

Experience and Needs of Family Members of Patients Treated with ECMO

Sudden onset of an unexpected and severe illness is associated with an increased stress experience of family members. Only one study to date has explored the experience of family members of patients who are at high risk of... read more

Experience and Needs of Family Members of Patients Treated with ECMO

Oxygen Flow Rate and FiO2: Understand the Relationship!

Oxygen, we all need it! We do not need a lot of it under normal circumstances, with 0.21 being the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) of room air. FiO2 is defined as the concentration of oxygen that a person inhales. The... read more

Oxygen Flow Rate and FiO2: Understand the Relationship!

Hyperoxia and Hypocapnia During Pediatric ECMO

Hyperoxia is common during pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and associated with mortality. Hypocapnia appears to occur less often and although associated with complications, an association with mortality... read more

Hyperoxia and Hypocapnia During Pediatric ECMO

The Inflammatory Response to ECMO

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a technology capable of providing short-term mechanical support to the heart, lungs or both. Over the last decade, the number of centres offering ECMO has grown rapidly. At the... read more

The Inflammatory Response to ECMO

Clinicians’ Perceptions of Rationales for Rehabilitative Exercise in a Critical Care Setting

Rehabilitative exercise for critically ill patients may have many benefits; however, it is unknown what intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians perceive to be important rationale for the implementation of rehabilitative exercise... read more

Clinicians’ Perceptions of Rationales for Rehabilitative Exercise in a Critical Care Setting