Critical care clinics
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Surgical site infection (SSI) can be a significant complication of cardiac surgery, delaying recovery and acting as a barrier to enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery. Several risk factors predisposing patients to SSI including smoking, excessive alcohol intake, hyperglycemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypo- or hyperthermia, and Staphylococcus aureus colonization are discussed. ⋯ Glycemic control should be optimized preoperatively, and hyperglycemia should be avoided perioperatively with the use of intravenous insulin infusions. All patients should receive topical intranasal Staphylococcus aureus decolonization and intravenous cephalosporin if not penicillin allergic.
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In recent years the prescription opioid overdose epidemic has decreased, but has been more than offset by increases in overdose caused by fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. Opioid overdose patients should receive naloxone if they have significant respiratory depression and/or loss of protective airway reflexes. ⋯ Patients with opioid overdose may be admitted to the intensive care unit for naloxone infusions, treatment of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, autonomic instability, or sequelae of hypoxia-ischemia or cardiac arrest. Primary and secondary prevention are important to reduce the number of people with life-threatening opioid overdose.
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The post-intensive care unit follow-up of patients hospitalized with pulmonary embolism is crucial to the comprehensive care of these patients. This article discusses the recommended duration of intensive care unit stay after high-intermediate risk or high-risk pulmonary embolism, duration of anticoagulation after venous thromboembolism event, retrieval of inferior vena cava filters, post-hospitalization follow-up and assessment of right ventricular function, and assessment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, chronic thromboembolic disease, and post-pulmonary embolism syndrome.