Association of Age With Short-term and Long-term Mortality Among Patients Discharged From ICUs in France

Association of Age With Short-term and Long-term Mortality Among Patients Discharged From ICUs in France

Results of this study suggest that aging was associated with an increased risk of mortality in the 3 years after hospital discharge that included an ICU admission, with a sharp increase in those 80 years and older. However,... read more

Angiotensin II For Septic Shock Treatment

Angiotensin II For Septic Shock Treatment

Angiotensin II has been studied for many years and has consistently shown to increase MAP. This medication adds a new mechanism of action to the vasopressor arsenal that is already used for septic shock. Angiotensin II should... read more

Machine-learning System Could Aid Critical Decisions in Sepsis Care

Machine-learning System Could Aid Critical Decisions in Sepsis Care

Researchers from MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have developed a predictive model that could guide clinicians in deciding when to give potentially life-saving drugs to patients being treated for sepsis in the... read more

Heterogeneity of Treatment Effect by Baseline Risk of Mortality in Critically ill Patients

Heterogeneity of Treatment Effect by Baseline Risk of Mortality in Critically ill Patients

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) enrolling patients with sepsis or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) generate heterogeneous trial populations. Non-random variation in the treatment effect of an intervention due... read more

Effect of High-dose Ascorbic Acid on Vasopressor’s Requirement in Septic Shock

Effect of High-dose Ascorbic Acid on Vasopressor’s Requirement in Septic Shock

In this study, administration of high-dose ascorbic acid significantly decreased the requirement for vasopressor's dose and duration in surgical critically ill patients with septic shock. Several mechanisms including anti-oxidant,... read more

ICU Physiology in 1000 Words: The Mean Systemic Filling Pressure

ICU Physiology in 1000 Words: The Mean Systemic Filling Pressure

Consider sitting deep within the hull of this cruise ship, ignorant to the outside. A leak is sprung and ocean begins to rush in. Thinking quickly you activate the bilge pump which, appropriately, ejects the ocean outside... read more

Updates and Controversies in the Early Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock

Updates and Controversies in the Early Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock

For patients in the ED who are suspected of having sepsis, swift, effective management is vital to improving outcomes. This issue reviews the latest evidence on the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis and septic shock: ... read more

Management of Refractory Vasodilatory Shock

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

Association of Vasopressin Plus Catecholamine Vasopressors vs Catecholamines Alone With Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Distributive Shock

Association of Vasopressin Plus Catecholamine Vasopressors vs Catecholamines Alone With Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Distributive Shock

In this meta-analysis, the addition of vasopressin to catecholamine vasopressors compared with catecholamines alone was associated with a lower risk of atrial fibrillation. However, findings for secondary outcomes varied.... read more

Mythbuster: Administration of Vasopressors Through Peripheral Intravenous Access

Mythbuster: Administration of Vasopressors Through Peripheral Intravenous Access

Vasopressors are frequently used in critically ill patients with hemodynamic instability both in the emergency department (ED) as well as intensive care units (ICUs). Typically, vasopressors are given through central venous... read more

Should We Stop Trending Lactate in 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

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

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

The Artificial Intelligence Clinician Learns Optimal Treatment Strategies for Sepsis in Intensive Care

The Artificial Intelligence Clinician Learns Optimal Treatment Strategies for Sepsis in Intensive Care

Sepsis is the third leading cause of death worldwide and the main cause of mortality in hospitals but the best treatment strategy remains uncertain. In particular, evidence suggests that current practices in the administration... read more

Mimics of Sepsis: What do ED Physicians Need to Know?

Mimics of Sepsis: What do ED Physicians Need to Know?

SIRS and sepsis are common clinical entities. A wide range of estimates for prevalence exists, with 300 to 1000 cases per 100,000 persons per year. Once a septic patient is admitted, more than half will require at least step... read more