Current opinion in critical care
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Jun 2023
ReviewPulse wave analysis: basic concepts and clinical application in intensive care medicine.
The measurement of cardiac output ( CO ) is important in patients with circulatory shock. Pulse wave analysis (PWA) estimates CO continuously and in real-time using the mathematical analysis of the arterial pressure waveform. We describe different PWA methods and provide a framework for CO monitoring using PWA in critically ill patients. ⋯ Noninvasive PWA methods are generally not recommended in critically ill patients (who have arterial catheters anyway). PWA systems can be used to continuously track stroke volume and CO in real-time during tests of fluid responsiveness or during therapeutic interventions. During fluid challenges, continuous CO monitoring is important because - if CO decreases - a fluid challenge can be stopped early to avoid further unnecessary fluid administration. PWA externally calibrated to indicator dilution methods can be used - in addition to echocardiography - to diagnose the type of shock.
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The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of head-up (HUP) CPR physiology, relevant preclinical findings, and recent clinical literature. ⋯ HUP CPR is a new and novel therapy increasingly used in the prehospital setting and discussed in the resuscitation community. This review provides a relevant review of HUP CPR physiology and preclinical work, and recent clinical findings. Further clinical studies are needed to further explore the potential of HUP CPR.
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To discuss the different techniques used to assess tissue oxygenation in critically ill patients. ⋯ Recent studies have highlighted the interest of surrogate measurements of tissue oxygenation and in particular PCO2 gradients.
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Many critically ill patients face physical, mental or neurocognitive impairments up to years later, the etiology remaining largely unexplained. Aberrant epigenetic changes have been linked to abnormal development and diseases resulting from adverse environmental exposures like major stress or inadequate nutrition. Theoretically, severe stress and artificial nutritional management of critical illness thus could induce epigenetic changes explaining long-term problems. We review supporting evidence. ⋯ Epigenetic abnormalities induced by critical illness or its nutritional management provide a plausible molecular basis for their adverse effects on long-term outcomes. Identifying treatments to further attenuate these abnormalities opens perspectives to reduce the debilitating legacy of critical illness.