Current opinion in critical care
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Feb 2022
Ventilator-associated pneumonia among SARS-CoV-2 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients.
We conducted a systematic literature review to summarize the available evidence regarding the incidence, risk factors, and clinical characteristics of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation because of acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection (C-ARDS). ⋯ Covid-19 patients who require mechanical ventilation for ARDS have a high risk (>50%) of developing VAP, most commonly because of Gram-negative bacteria. Further work is needed to elucidate the disease-specific risk factors for VAP, strategies for prevention, and how best to differentiate between bacterial colonization versus superinfection.
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Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains a major health burden around the globe, most often occurring in the community (out-of-hospital cardiac arrest [OHCA]). SCA accounts for 15-20% of all natural deaths in adults in the USA and Western Europe, and up to 50% of all cardiovascular deaths. To reduce this burden, more knowledge is needed about its key facets such as its incidence in various geographies, its risk factors, and the populations that may be at risk. ⋯ Our insights into the causes of SCA are steadily increasing thanks to the creation of big datasets dedicated to SCA research. These insights may be used to earlier recognize of individuals at risk, the design of personalized methods for prevention, and more effective resuscitation strategies for OHCA.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2021
ReviewUtility of bedside ultrasound derived hepatic and renal parenchymal flow patterns to guide management of acute kidney injury.
Ideal fluid management of critically ill patients is maintaining an adequate perfusion pressure but avoiding venous congestion. Venous excess ultrasound score (VExUS) quantifies venous congestion to guide the management of fluid balance. ⋯ We summarize the technique and clinical practice of VExUS to help guide fluid balance across different populations of critically ill patients.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2021
ReviewThe world restart a heart initiative: how to save hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide.
Sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is still one of the top reasons for death in industrialized countries. Bystander resuscitation rates differ significantly across the world despite bystanders being easily able to save lives in this situation. In the 4 years since initiation of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) World Restart a Heart (WRAH), the initiative helped educating millions of people and thus enabled them to save lives. ⋯ The WRAH awareness campaign has reached 194 countries and more than 200 million people in the last years. The success of it could even be kept going in the pandemic due to social media and digital/virtual programmes. International guidelines recommend raising awareness and name ILCOR WRAH as a way to do it.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2021
ReviewMyocardial injury after noncardiac surgery: facts, fallacies and how to approach clinically.
Acute myocardial injury occurs commonly during perioperative care. There is still considerable confusion regarding its diagnosis and definition, and a lack of consensus on who and how to screen, exacerbated by a lack of studies addressing how to manage patients with detected myocardial injury. ⋯ This review aims to bring together current literature regarding myocardial injury that is detected perioperatively, identifies knowledge gaps for future research and provides suggestions for management.