Early Versus Late Initiation of Renal Replacement Therapy in Critically Ill Patients

Early Versus Late Initiation of Renal Replacement Therapy in Critically Ill Patients

Early initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) effect on survival and renal recovery of critically ill patients is still uncertain. We aimed to systematically review current evidence comparing outcomes of early versus... read more

Predictors of Return to Work in Survivors of Critical Illness

Predictors of Return to Work in Survivors of Critical Illness

Major trauma, lower GCS and increased hospital length of stay predicted inability to return to work due to health at six-months post-ICU admission. Compared to employed patients, those who had not returned to work reported... read more

Functional Recovery in Critically Ill Children, the “WeeCover” Multicenter Study

Functional Recovery in Critically Ill Children, the “WeeCover” Multicenter Study

This study provides new information regarding functional outcomes and the factors that influence meaningful aspects of functioning in critically ill children. Identifying patients at greatest risk and modifiable targets for... read more

Expectations of Recovery: ICU Anecdotes

Expectations of Recovery: ICU Anecdotes

Most of us believe we know our loved ones' wishes. You may know what your father's favorite meal is or what he enjoys doing on a Sunday afternoon. But do you know if he would want a feeding tube if he can’t eat? These kinds... read more

How You Can Protect Your Parent From Delirium

How You Can Protect Your Parent From Delirium

Unlike dementia, which is constant and gets progressively worse, delirium tends to come and go, fluctuating even in the course of a day. The symptoms are transitory, yet for people who develop delirium, it can be the start... read more

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

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

Inspiratory Muscle Training for ICU Patients

Inspiratory Muscle Training for ICU Patients

Inspiratory muscle weakness is a known consequence of prolonged mechanical ventilation, and there is emerging evidence that specific inspiratory muscle training (IMT) can ameliorate this weakness. Australian researchers recommend... read more

Providing Psychological Support to People in Intensive Care

Providing Psychological Support to People in Intensive Care

The Provision Of Psychological support to People in Intensive Care (POPPI) psychological intervention to reduce acute patient stress in critical care and prevent future psychological morbidity was feasible and acceptable.... read more

Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction in COPD. What We Know and Can Do for Our Patients

Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction in COPD. What We Know and Can Do for Our Patients

Skeletal muscle dysfunction occurs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and affects both ventilatory and nonventilatory muscle groups. It represents a very important comorbidity that is associated... read more

Dysphagia – A Common, Transient Symptom in Critical Illness Polyneuropathy

Dysphagia – A Common, Transient Symptom in Critical Illness Polyneuropathy

Dysphagia is frequent among patients with critical illness polyneuropathy treated in the ICU. Old age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the mode of mechanical ventilation, the prevalence of tracheal tubes, and behavioral... read more

Metabolic Phenotype of Skeletal Muscle in Early Critical Illness

Metabolic Phenotype of Skeletal Muscle in Early Critical Illness

Decreased mitochondrial biogenesis and dysregulated lipid oxidation contribute to compromised skeletal muscle bioenergetic status. In addition, intramuscular inflammation was associated with impaired anabolic recovery with... read more

Early application of continuous HVHF can reduce sepsis and improve the prognosis of patients with severe burns

Early application of continuous HVHF can reduce sepsis and improve the prognosis of patients with severe burns

Early application of high-volume haemofiltration (HVHF) benefits patients with severe burns, especially for those with a greater burn area (≥ 80% TBSA), decreasing the incidence of sepsis and mortality. This effect may... read more

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

We train longer, specialize more, use ever-advancing technologies, and still we fail. Atul Gawande makes a compelling argument that we can do better, using the simplest of methods: the checklist. In riveting stories, he reveals... read more

New research shows why nutrition should be back on the table for surgical patients

New research shows why nutrition should be back on the table for surgical patients

More than 48 million people in the U.S. undergo surgery each year, and for decades the focus has been on making sure patients do not consume any food or drinks in the hours leading up to the surgery. Yet, 1 in 3 patients... read more