Perhaps something isn’t always better than nothing

Perhaps something isn’t always better than nothing

It is not unreasonable to say the COVID-19 pandemic caught most of us by surprise. We did not know how infectious the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus leading to COVID-19 disease was, nor... read more

From despair to hope: advanced therapy gives a lifeline to the sickest COVID-19 patients

From despair to hope: advanced therapy gives a lifeline to the sickest COVID-19 patients

More than two months later, that piece of paper still lies on her coffee table with four letters on it: "E-C-M-O." Irena Veronese had never heard that acronym before, but when it was first mentioned to her, it meant moving... read more

Procedural Sedation in the COVID-19 Era

Procedural Sedation in the COVID-19 Era

Resuming procedural sedation services for elective procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic requires unique considerations to ensure safety for patients and providers. Guidelines for resuming these procedures, including timing,... read more

Exhaled Air Dispersion During Bag-mask Ventilation and Sputum Suctioning

Exhaled Air Dispersion During Bag-mask Ventilation and Sputum Suctioning

Mask ventilation and coughing during oro-tracheal suctioning produce aerosols that enhance nosocomial transmission of respiratory infections. We examined the extent of exhaled air dispersion from a human-patient-simulator... read more

The use of continuous perineural catheters and other practices to optimize regional anesthesia in COVID-19 patients

The use of continuous perineural catheters and other practices to optimize regional anesthesia in COVID-19 patients

As anesthesiologists, we are on the front line of the fight against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), whether in the intensive care unit, operating room, or elsewhere in the hospital. Given the highly contagious nature of the... read more

Identifying Airborne Transmission as the Dominant Route for the Spread of COVID-19

Identifying Airborne Transmission as the Dominant Route for the Spread of COVID-19

We have elucidated the transmission pathways of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by analyzing the trend and mitigation measures in the three epicenters. Our results show that the airborne transmission route is highly... read more

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in the Emergency Department During COVID-19

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in the Emergency Department During COVID-19

Emergency medical services (EMS) is called for a 65-year-old man with a 1-week history of cough, fever, and mild shortness of breath now reporting chest pain. Vitals on scene were HR 110, BP 135/90, SpO2 88% on room air.... read more

Safe Airway Management for the Patient with COVID-19

Safe Airway Management for the Patient with COVID-19

In this presentation, Dr Ravi Bhagrath, Consultant Anaesthetist at Bart’s Health, London asks Dr Kariem El-Boghdadly, Consultant in Anaesthesia at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London about the IntubateCOVID... read more

Preparing for COVID-19 Related Drug Shortages

Preparing for COVID-19 Related Drug Shortages

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted all aspects of healthcare delivery. There is widespread concern that increased clinical demands due to the virus will outstrip available resources. Much attention has focused... read more

Ventilator Management in the Age of COVID-19

Ventilator Management in the Age of COVID-19

In the age of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19), conservation of personal protective equipment (PPE) represents an urgent public health priority. Vargas et al. describe a logistic project and organizational plan to prevent... read more

Managing Theatre Processes for Planned Surgery Between COVID-19 Surges

Managing Theatre Processes for Planned Surgery Between COVID-19 Surges

As we emerge from the first pandemic surge, there is a widespread desire to restart planned surgery using patient pathways that seek to minimise COVID-19 risk to patients and healthcare workers (HCWs). Some hospitals... read more

Translational simulation for rapid transformation of health services, using the example of the COVID-19 pandemic preparation

Translational simulation for rapid transformation of health services, using the example of the COVID-19 pandemic preparation

Healthcare simulation has significant potential for helping health services to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapid changes to care pathways and processes needed for protection of staff and patients may be facilitated by... read more

Simulated COVID-19 Contamination of Health Care Workers After Endotracheal Intubation of Manikins

Simulated COVID-19 Contamination of Health Care Workers After Endotracheal Intubation of Manikins

Despite personal protective equipment, fluorescent markers were found on the uncovered skin, hair, and shoes of participants after simulations of emergency department management of patients experiencing respiratory distress.... read more

The Essential Role of Anaesthesiologists in the COVID-19 Response

The Essential Role of Anaesthesiologists in the COVID-19 Response

Five out of seven billion people in this world do not have access to safe anaesthesia and surgery. Anaesthesia is essential for a well-functioning health system, as highlighted by WHA Resolution 68.15 on Strengthening Emergency... read more

Critical Care Transport in the Time of COVID-19

Critical Care Transport in the Time of COVID-19

Air ambulances and critical care transport providers are operationally-focused organizations that can play a critical role during pandemics. We have provided a short synopsis of our experience during the COVID-19 pandemic... read more

CPR Algorithm Adjustments when Caring for Suspected or Confirmed COVID Cases

CPR Algorithm Adjustments when Caring for Suspected or Confirmed COVID Cases

When caring for confirmed COVID-19 cases, it is essential for healthcare providers to protect themselves from exposure as best they can. Healthcare providers who contract COVID-19 can increase the burden on an already... read more

On the Front Lines in Fight Against COVID-19

On the Front Lines in Fight Against COVID-19

As a worldwide pandemic washes over the St. Louis region, the Washington University Medical Campus is eerily quiet. Most visitors, students, staff and research faculty are no longer on campus. Limited patients come to its... read more