Critical care clinics
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Advances in intensive care unit (ICU) therapeutics are plentiful and rooted in technological enhancements as well as recognition of patient care priorities. A plethora of new devices and modes are available for use to enhance patient safety and support liberation from mechanical ventilation while preserving oxygenation and carbon dioxide clearance. Increased penetrance of closed loop systems is one means to reduce care variation in appropriate populations. The intelligent design of the ICU space needs to integrate the footprint of that device and the data streaming from it into a coherent whole that supports patient, family, and caregivers.
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The surgical critically ill patient is subject to a variable and complex metabolic response, which has detrimental effects on immunity, wound healing, and preservation of lean body muscle. The concept of nutrition support has evolved into nutrition therapy, whereby the primary objectives are to prevent oxidative cell injury, modulate the immune response, and attenuate the metabolic response. This review outlines the metabolic response to critical illness, describes nutritional risk; reviews the evidence for the role, dose, and timing of enteral and parenteral nutrition, and reviews the evidence for immunonutrition in the surgical intensive care unit.
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Critical care clinics · Apr 2017
ReviewAnemia and Red Blood Cell Transfusion: Advances in Critical Care.
Anemia is common in the intensive care unit (ICU), resulting in frequent administration of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. Significant advances have been made in understanding the pathophysiology of anemia in the ICU, which is anemia of inflammation. ⋯ RBC transfusions are most commonly administered to ICU patients for treatment of anemia. All strategies to reduce anemia in the ICU should be implemented.
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Critical care clinics · Apr 2017
ReviewOptimal Strategies for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs in more than 10% of intensive care unit admissions and in nearly 25% of ventilated patients. Mortality remains high at 40%, and, for patients who survive, recovery continues for months or even years. ⋯ Alternative ventilator strategies include high-frequency ventilation and airway pressure release ventilation. This article reviews these options in patients with severe ARDS.
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Critical care clinics · Apr 2017
ReviewSevere Sepsis and Septic Shock Trials (ProCESS, ARISE, ProMISe): What is Optimal Resuscitation?
Between 2014 and 2015, 3 independent, multicenter, randomized controlled trials evaluated early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) in severe sepsis and septic shock: Protocolized Care for Early Septic Shock (ProCESS) from the United States; Australasian Resuscitation in Sepsis Evaluation (ARISE), and Protocolised Management in Sepsis (ProMISe) in the United Kingdom. All 3 trials confirmed that there was no survival benefit of EGDT compared to usual resuscitation. How should we define usual care for sepsis given these study findings? Furthermore, the definition of sepsis has now been updated. This article reviews key findings of these 3 trials and discusses these important issues in sepsis management.