Critical care clinics
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Gastrointestinal (GI) complications of cirrhosis are frequent in patients who require intensive care support and are often the primary indication for intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Perhaps the most worrisome GI complication for the intensivist is variceal hemorrhage. ⋯ Nonvariceal GI bleeding, impaired GI motility, and malnutrition also provide significant challenges for the intensivist. This article reviews GI issues that present in critically ill cirrhotic patients and their management in the acute setting.
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This article describes key concepts for drug dosing considerations in liver disease. Included in this article is a review of pharmacokinetic changes that are known to occur in patients with liver disease that can aide in drug dosing. Although limited, the currently available pharmacokinetic data for medications that are commonly used in the critical care setting are also included.