Current opinion in critical care
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2023
ReviewExtracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest - current status.
Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is an emerging treatment for refractory cardiac arrest. In recent years, several randomized controlled trials have been published that aimed to address the efficacy and effectiveness of ECPR for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Despite the lack of high-quality evidence concerning clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, ECPR is increasingly implemented throughout the world. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the current status of ECPR for OHCA. ⋯ The potential of ECPR to increase survival in selected patients in highly dedicated systems seems to be proven, the question remains whether ECPR for OHCA can be widely implemented successfully and can develop into a sustainable, commonplace resource-effective treatment.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2023
ReviewThe management of severe traumatic brain injury in the initial postinjury hours - current evidence and controversies.
To provide an overview of recent studies discussing novel strategies, controversies, and challenges in the management of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) in the initial postinjury hours. ⋯ Advancement of the prehospital and ED care that include stabilization of physiological parameters, rapid correction of impaired coagulation, noninvasive techniques to identify raised ICP, emergent surgical evacuation of mass lesions and/or decompressive craniectomy, and temporary measures to counteract increased ICP play pivotal roles in the initial management of sTBI. Individualized approaches considering the underlying pathology are crucial for accurate outcome prediction.
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Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a highly prevalent clinical syndrome that substantially impacts patient outcomes. It is accepted by the clinical communities that the management of AKI is time-sensitive. Unfortunately, despite growing proof of its preventability, AKI management remains suboptimal in community, acute care, and postacute care settings. Digital health solutions comprise various tools and models to improve care processes and patient outcomes in multiple medical fields. AKI development, progression, recovery, or lack thereof, offers tremendous opportunities for developing, validating, and implementing digital health solutions in multiple settings. This article will review the definitions and components of digital health, the characteristics of AKI that allow digital health solutions to be considered, and the opportunities and threats in implementing these solutions. ⋯ Careful needs assessment, selection of the correct digital health solution, and appropriate clinical validation of the benefits while avoiding additional health disparities are moral, professional, and ethical obligations for all individuals using these healthcare tools, including clinicians, data scientists, and administrators.
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While the principles of damage control surgery - rapid hemorrhage and contamination control with correction of physiologic derangements followed by delayed definitive reconstruction - have remained consistent, forms of damage control intervention have evolved and proliferated dramatically. This review aims to provide a historic perspective of the early trends of damage control surgery as well as an updated understanding of its current state and future trends. ⋯ Optimal outcome in the care of the most severely injured patients requires judicious use of damage control surgery supplemented by advancements in resuscitation and surgical adjuncts.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2023
ReviewCurrent knowledge and availability of machine learning across the spectrum of trauma science.
Recent technological advances have accelerated the use of Machine Learning in trauma science. This review provides an overview on the available evidence for research and patient care. The review aims to familiarize clinicians with this rapidly evolving field, offer perspectives, and identify existing and future challenges. ⋯ Machine Learning holds promise for actionable decision support in trauma science, but rigorous proof-of-concept studies are urgently needed. Future research should assess workflow integration, human-machine interaction, and, most importantly, the impact on patient outcome. Machine Learning enhanced causal inference for observational data carries an enormous potential to change trauma research as complement to randomized studies. The scientific trauma community needs to engage with the existing challenges to drive progress in the field.