Septic Shock in the Prehospital Setting

Septic shock (SS) is a potential life-threatening condition in which an early identification and immediate therapy stand out as the main cornerstones to improve survival chance; in this context, emergency medical services... read more

Iloprost and Organ Dysfunction in Adults With Septic Shock and Endotheliopathy

In this randomized clinical trial of adults in the ICU with septic shock and severe endotheliopathy, infusion of iloprost, 1 ng/kg/min, for 72 hours did not reduce mean daily SOFA scores compared with placebo. In a clinical... read more

Prior Exposure to ACEi Increased Cardiovascular Response to Angiotensin-II

Prior Exposure to ACEi Increased Cardiovascular Response to Angiotensin-II

Prior exposure to RAS-inhibiting medications was associated with an altered RAS profile and cardiovascular response to angiotensin-II treatment in patients with catecholamine-refractory vasodilatory shock. ACE-inhibitor... read more

Inhaled Epoprostenol Compared With Nitric Oxide for Right Ventricular Support After Major Cardiac Surgery

Inhaled Epoprostenol Compared With Nitric Oxide for Right Ventricular Support After Major Cardiac Surgery

Right ventricular failure (RVF) is a leading driver of morbidity and mortality after major cardiac surgery for advanced heart failure, including orthotopic heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device implantation.... read more

Hemodialysis as an Effective Treatment for Combined Amlodipine and Metformin Overdose

Hemodialysis as an Effective Treatment for Combined Amlodipine and Metformin Overdose

Introducing emergency dialysis will lead to significant outcomes in mortality and morbidity in patients with combined toxicity of amlodipine and metformin. Moreover, non-ST elevation myocardial infarction is also expected... read more

Workbook on Hemodynamic Management

Workbook on Hemodynamic Management

This workbook focuses on hemodynamics management. Hemodynamic management should be aimed at minimizing the ischemic injury. Cerebral ischemia impairs the brain's ability to autoregulate its circulation through vasoconstriction... read more

Vasopressor Choice and Timing in Vasodilatory Shock

Vasopressor Choice and Timing in Vasodilatory Shock

Vasodilatory shock is the most common form of circulatory shock encountered in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Sepsis is the predominant etiology, but other causes of vasodilatory shock include postoperative... read more

The Truth About High-Dose Insulin

The Truth About High-Dose Insulin

The agent involved when our poison center is consulted about cases of calcium channel blocker (CCB) poisoning these days is almost invariably amlodipine. Quite often, the clinical team will be reaching for high-dose insulin... read more

Inhaled Pulmonary Vasodilator Therapy in Adult Lung Transplant

Inhaled Pulmonary Vasodilator Therapy in Adult Lung Transplant

Among patients undergoing LT, use of iEPO was associated with similar risks for PGD-3 development and other postoperative outcomes compared with the use of iNO. A total of 201 randomized patients met eligibility criteria... read more

Severity of Hypoxemia may Explain Indeterminate Results in Pediatric Trials of iNO

Severity of Hypoxemia may Explain Indeterminate Results in Pediatric Trials of iNO

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is used for refractory hypoxemia in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) via vasodilation of pulmonary arterioles to ventilated alveoli, particularly in pediatrics. However, iNO has not affected... read more

Mythbusting: (Empty IVC + Hyperkinetic Heart) Does Not Equal Volume Depletion

Mythbusting: (Empty IVC + Hyperkinetic Heart) Does Not Equal Volume Depletion

An empty IVC and hyperkinetic heart does not equal volume depletion. This combination of echocardiographic findings may result from either vasodilatory shock (as illustrated above) or hypovolemic shock. If encountered in... read more

Inhaled Pulmonary Vasodilators

Inhaled Pulmonary Vasodilators

Confusion between inhaled versus intravenous routes for pulmonary vasodilators. For optimal clinical benefit (especially regarding oxygenation), these agents must be given via an inhaled route. The misconception that inhaled... read more

Vasodilatory Shock in the ICU and the Role of Angiotensin II

Vasodilatory Shock in the ICU and the Role of Angiotensin II

With the approval and release of angiotensin II, a new vasoactive agent is now available to utilize in these patients. Overall, the treatment for vasodilatory shock should not be a one-size fits all approach and should be... read more

Approach to the Critically Ill Child: Shock

Approach to the Critically Ill Child: Shock

If you mainly treat adults or both adults and children like me, then you have probably heard the (very annoying) quote, "kids are not just small adults", and so I won't say it again. Well, I guess I just did, but at least... read more