Current opinion in critical care
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This review will highlight the latest research relevant to the clinical care of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients over the last 2 years while underscoring the implications of these advances in the understanding of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of TBI. ⋯ The current characterization of TBI as mild, moderate, or severe fails to capture the complexity of the disease process and helps little with prognostication. Molecular biomarkers and invasive monitoring devices including brain tissue oxygenation and measures of cerebral autoregulation are being utilized more commonly and can help guide therapy. Extracranial complications following TBI are common and include infection, respiratory failure, coagulopathy, hypercoagulability, and paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity.
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While it is now widely established acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and important complication of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disease, there is marked variability in its reported incidence and outcomes. This narrative review provides a mid-2022 summary of the latest epidemiological evidence on AKI in COVID-19. ⋯ This review summarises the epidemiology, risk factors, outcomes and treatment of COVID-19-associated AKI across the global pandemic. In particular the long-term impact of COVID-19 disease on kidney health is uncertain and requires further characterisation.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2022
ReviewQuality, safety, and implementation science in acute kidney care.
Quality and safety are important themes in acute kidney care (AKC). There have been many recent initiatives highlighting these aspects. However, for these to become part of clinical practice, a rigorous implementation science methodology must be followed. This review will present these practices and will highlight recent initiatives in acute kidney injury (AKI), kidney replacement therapy (KRT) and recovery from AKI. ⋯ Quality and safety continue to be important focuses in AKC. Although recent work have focused on initiatives to improve these themes, additional work is necessary to further develop these items as we strive to improve the care to patients with AKI.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2022
ReviewCoronavirus disease 2019 aftermath: psychological trauma in ICU healthcare workers.
We aim to describe the extent of psychological trauma and moral distress in healthcare workers (HCW) working in the intensive care unit (ICU) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Specifically, we review reports on prevalence of mental health symptoms, highlight vulnerable populations and summarize modifiable risk factors associated with mental health symptoms in ICU HCW. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted ICU HCW worldwide. The psychological trauma, manifesting as posttraumatic stress disorder, burnout, anxiety, and depression, is substantial and concerning. Urgent action by lawmakers and healthcare administrators is required to protect ICU HCW and sustain a healthy workforce.
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Transfusion of blood products is lifesaving in the trauma ICU. Intensivists must be familiar with contemporary literature to develop the optimal transfusion strategy for each patient. ⋯ Hemorrhagic shock is the leading cause of death in trauma. Improved resuscitation strategy has been one of the most important contemporary advancements in trauma care and continues to be a key area of clinical research.