Pharmacomechanical Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Deep-Vein Thrombosis

Pharmacomechanical Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Deep-Vein Thrombosis

The post-thrombotic syndrome frequently develops in patients with proximal deep-vein thrombosis despite treatment with anticoagulant therapy. Pharmacomechanical catheter-directed thrombolysis (hereafter "pharmacomechanical... read more

I help bring music to patients in intensive care

I help bring music to patients in intensive care

After my own experience in ICU, I became convinced of the therapeutic benefits of live music to those who are critically ill. Soothing acoustic music drifted through the clinical, high-tech ward. As the professional musician... read more

Corticosteroid Therapy for Critically Ill Patients with the MERS

Corticosteroid Therapy for Critically Ill Patients with the MERS

Corticosteroid therapy in patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) was not associated with a difference in mortality after adjustment for time-varying confounders, but was associated with delayed MERS coronavirus... read more

Effect of Azithromycin on Asthma Exacerbations and Quality of Life in Adults with Persistent Uncontrolled Asthma

Effect of Azithromycin on Asthma Exacerbations and Quality of Life in Adults with Persistent Uncontrolled Asthma

Adults with persistent symptomatic asthma experience fewer asthma exacerbations and improved quality of life when treated with oral azithromycin for 48 weeks. Azithromycin might be a useful add-on therapy in persistent asthma.... read more

Promoting High-Value Practice by Reducing Unnecessary Transfusions With a Patient Blood Management Program

Promoting High-Value Practice by Reducing Unnecessary Transfusions With a Patient Blood Management Program

Although blood transfusion is a lifesaving therapy for some patients, transfusion has been named 1 of the top 5 overused procedures in US hospitals. As unnecessary transfusions only increase risk and cost without providing... read more

The Dark Sides of Fluid Administration in the Critically Ill Patient

The Dark Sides of Fluid Administration in the Critically Ill Patient

The administration of intravenous fluids is probably the most frequently initiated therapy in critically ill patients. With very few exceptions, such as severe congestive heart failure, IV fluids are considered as a safe... read more

An Expert Consensus Statement on Physical Rehabilitation After Hospital Discharge

An Expert Consensus Statement on Physical Rehabilitation After Hospital Discharge

A consensus-based framework for optimal physical therapy (PT) after hospital discharge is proposed. Future research should focus on feasibility testing of this framework, developing risk stratification tools and validating... read more

Is assembly line surgery better for the patient?

Is assembly line surgery better for the patient?

A friend of mine recently underwent a total knee replacement. Although he did well and was pain-free, he did say that he felt he was on an assembly line. I asked him what he meant. As he was talking, I flashed back 30 years,... read more

Updates on Sepsis from WSC

Updates on Sepsis from WSC

Fourth session from the World Sepsis Congress Spotlight: Maternal and Neonatal Sepsis - Updates on Sepsis.... read more

The Role of Physiotherapy in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in the ICU

The Role of Physiotherapy in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in the ICU

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is an evidence-based, multimodal approach to optimising patient outcomes following surgery. The role of physiotherapy within ERAS and intensive care units (ICU) is important. Patients... read more

Severe AKI in Young ICU Patients Predicts Higher Mortality

Severe AKI in Young ICU Patients Predicts Higher Mortality

Acute kidney injury (AKI) among critically ill children and young adults is common and is associated with higher mortality risk and other poor outcomes The condition also is associated with greater use of renal-replacement... read more

Aerosol Delivery During Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

Aerosol Delivery During Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

Lung deposition was lower than 20% of nominal dose delivered with nebulizers and mostly occurred in proximal airways. Further studies are needed to link substantial concentrations of antibiotics in infected pulmonary fluids... read more

Levosimendan in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Levosimendan in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Levosimendan reduces mortality in patients with preoperative severely reduced LVEF but does not affect overall mortality. Levosimendan reduces the need for RRT after high-risk cardiac surgery. Six RCTs were included in the... read more

Acute Kidney Injury Is Risk Factor for Delirium and Coma

Acute Kidney Injury Is Risk Factor for Delirium and Coma

For critically ill adults, acute kidney injury is a risk factor for delirium and coma. Stage 2 acute kidney injury was associated with increased risk of delirium and coma (odds ratios, 1.55 and 2.04, respectively), as was... read more