Resuscitation of Endotheliopathy and Bleeding in Thoracic Aortic Dissections

In this randomized, clinical pilot trial of patients undergoing emergency surgery for thoracic aorta dissections, we found that OctaplasLG reduced glycocalyx and endothelial injury, reduced bleeding, transfusions, use of... read more

Resuscitation of Endotheliopathy and Bleeding in Thoracic Aortic Dissections

Ascorbic Acid, Corticosteroids, and Thiamine in Sepsis

The combination of thiamine, ascorbic acid, and corticosteroids is a promising new therapy for sepsis resuscitation but currently lacks robust evidence to support its widespread use. The potential effectiveness of this medication... read more

Ascorbic Acid, Corticosteroids, and Thiamine in Sepsis

Machine Learning for the Prediction of Volume Responsiveness in Patients with Oliguric AKI in Critical Care

Excess fluid balance in acute kidney injury (AKI) may be harmful, and conversely, some patients may respond to fluid challenges. This study aimed to develop a prediction model that can be used to differentiate between volume-responsive... read more

Machine Learning for the Prediction of Volume Responsiveness in Patients with Oliguric AKI in Critical Care

Oxygen Therapy in Acute Resuscitation

At present, evidence is lacking to support routine liberal oxygen administration in acutely ill patients and, in most circumstances, a reasonable approach is to titrate supplemental oxygen to achieve an arterial oxygen saturation... read more

Oxygen Therapy in Acute Resuscitation

Management of Refractory Vasodilatory Shock

Refractory shock is a lethal manifestation of cardiovascular failure defined by an inadequate hemodynamic response to high doses of vasopressor medications. Approximately 7% of critically ill patients will develop refractory... read more

Management of Refractory Vasodilatory Shock

Critical Care Controversies: The REBEL vs The SKEPTIC at #SMACC 2019

On the last day of the last SMACC conference, Dr. Ken Milne (The SGEM) and I had a cage match debating four critical care controversies. It was all done in good fun with both of us taking our opportunities to poke a little... read more

Critical Care Controversies: The REBEL vs The SKEPTIC at #SMACC 2019

Sepsis and Septic Shock – What Matters from EM Cases Course

In this podcast Dr. Sara Gray, intensivist and emergency physician, co-author of The CAEP Sepsis Guidelines, answers questions such as: How does one best recognize occult septic shock? How does SIRS, qSOFA and NEWS compare... read more

Sepsis and Septic Shock – What Matters from EM Cases Course

ECMO Global Trends and Use in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

In this video, Dr. Ravi Thiagarajan, Chief of the Division of Cardiac Critical Care at Boston Children's Hospital, and Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, outlines past and present trends in ECMO use across... read more

ECMO Global Trends and Use in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Monitoring the Relationship Between Changes in Cerebral Oxygenation and Electroencephalography Patterns During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Real-time monitoring of cerebral oxygenation and function during cardiac arrest resuscitation is feasible. Although voltage suppression is the commonest electroencephalography pattern, other distinct patterns exist that may... read more

Monitoring the Relationship Between Changes in Cerebral Oxygenation and Electroencephalography Patterns During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Extravascular Lung Water as a Target for Intensive Care

Extravascular lung water (EVLW) remains a useful guide for monitoring pulmonary edema (PO) and vascular permeability in sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and heart failure. In addition, EVLW has a prognostic... read more

Extravascular Lung Water as a Target for Intensive Care

Effect of a Resuscitation Strategy Targeting Peripheral Perfusion Status vs Serum Lactate Levels on 28-Day Mortality Among Patients With Septic Shock

Among patients with septic shock, a resuscitation strategy targeting normalization of capillary refill time, compared with a strategy targeting serum lactate levels, did not reduce all-cause 28-day mortality. Among 424 patients... read more

Effect of a Resuscitation Strategy Targeting Peripheral Perfusion Status vs Serum Lactate Levels on 28-Day Mortality Among Patients With Septic Shock

Should We Stop Trending Lactate in Septic Shock?

There may be a tendency to cement guideline recommendations into our collective minds as inalienable and sacrosanct – as if carved onto stone tablets and brought down to us from the heights of Mount Sinai. Thoughtful medicine,... read more

Should We Stop Trending Lactate in Septic Shock?

Hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis: Can we defuse the bomb?

Hypertriglyceridemia causes ~9% of pancreatitis, the third most common cause after alcohol and gallstones. It is a risk factor for severe pancreatitis, making it more frequent among ICU patients with pancreatitis. I see... read more

Hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis: Can we defuse the bomb?

Hoopla Aside, hs-cTnI is Not Catching Missed Mis

We have been searching for a tool to identify myocardial infarction patients who are truly safe for discharge ever since Pope, et al., found that we were discharging two percent of patients with MIs from the emergency department.... read more

Hoopla Aside, hs-cTnI is Not Catching Missed Mis

Unintended Consequences: Fluid Resuscitation Worsens Shock in an Ovine Model of Endotoxemia

Fluid resuscitation resulted in a paradoxical increase in vasopressor requirement. Additionally, it did not result in improvements in any of the measured microcirculatory- or organ-specific markers measured. The increase... read more

Unintended Consequences: Fluid Resuscitation Worsens Shock in an Ovine Model of Endotoxemia

Metabolic Sepsis Resuscitation

There are roughly two strategies for adjusting the intensity of treatment: Titrated strategy: Treatment intensity is adjusted to match the severity of the disease. Escalation-deescalation strategy: Treatment intensity is... read more

Metabolic Sepsis Resuscitation

Host Genetic Variants in Sepsis Risk

Published data revealed that host genetic variants have a substantial influence on sepsis susceptibility. However, the results have been inconsistent. We aimed to systematically review the published studies and quantitatively... read more

Host Genetic Variants in Sepsis Risk

Shock: Roadside to Resus

If you're involved in the care of critically unwell patients then you will frequently encounter patients who are shocked. The European Society of Intensive Care Medicine defines shock as; "Life-threatening, generalized... read more

Shock: Roadside to Resus

The Shocked Intubation: Definitive Airway Sans Hypotension

Not many aspects of Emergency Medicine define our specialty better than resuscitation, and few concepts exemplify resuscitation better than shock and intubation. Yet few words together strike greater fear in the minds of... read more

The Shocked Intubation: Definitive Airway Sans Hypotension

Patient-tailored Triage Decisions by Anesthesiologist-staffed Prehospital Critical Care Teams

The primary objective was to estimate the incidence of patients in the Central Denmark Region triaged to bypass the local emergency department without being part of a predefined fast-track protocol. The secondary objective... read more

Patient-tailored Triage Decisions by Anesthesiologist-staffed Prehospital Critical Care Teams

Principles of Fluid Management and Stewardship in Septic Shock

There are only four major indications for fluid administration in the critically ill: resuscitation, maintenance, replacement and nutrition (enteral or parenteral). In this review, a conceptual framework is presented looking... read more

Principles of Fluid Management and Stewardship in Septic Shock