Articles: critical-care.
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Paederus dermatitis, also known as dermatitis linearis, is an acute cutaneous condition caused by contact with the potent vesicant toxin paederin, produced by endosymbiotic Pseudomonas-like bacteria within Paederus spp. beetles. Paederin is a protein synthesis inhibitor that halts cell division, leading to vesiculation and necrotic breakdown of the epidermis. The resultant damage facilitates secondary infection, especially in austere conditions. ⋯ Strict preventative measures were implemented to limit exposure while carefully observing each case, as this was critical to optimize medical readiness of the team. Ultimately, we seek to highlight the identification of beetles specific to East Africa, seasonal prevalence, and the importance of preventative measures as they vary depending on specific beetle characteristics. Additionally, we reiterate classic presentation features that help avoid misdiagnosis for cases that occur outside of the typical epidemiologic criteria.
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Muscle wasting is a prevalent issue among long-term critically ill patients and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Evaluating muscle mass in the ICU presents challenges due to the lack of a consistent methodology and the significant impact of fluid balance range in ICU patients. This prospective study aimed to compare the utility of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and ultrasound (US) for monitoring muscle wasting in critically ill patients over an initial seven-day period of critical illness. ⋯ Ultrasound was a more suitable method for assessing and monitoring muscle wasting during ICU stays, while bioelectrical impedance analysis failed to demonstrate a comparable degree of muscle loss at Days 5 and 7. This study highlights the importance of selecting an appropriate assessment method based on the specific clinical context, emphasizing the reliability of US in evaluating muscle wasting among critically ill patients.
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A major fire at sea is among the most devastating events that can occur while a U.S. Navy combatant vessel is underway. Since World War II, no attack on a large U.S. Navy capital ship has occurred during combat operations. However, increasing global tensions raise the threat of future peer adversary naval combat, and shipboard medical caregivers must be prepared for mass casualty events in the deployed maritime environment. To better prepare modern naval caregivers for this possibility, we reviewed mass casualty events from major fires aboard large U.S. Navy aircraft carriers from 1950 through 2020 to summarize available objective data and identify lessons learned. ⋯ Shipboard fires underway pose a significant threat to crew safety with a mortality of nearly a quarter of those injured. These fire mass casualty events immediately overwhelm shipboard medical capabilities requiring a complex response from all hands beginning with non-medical first responders. Notably, all events occurred outside of direct enemy combat, potentially underestimating the impact and number of casualties of a shipboard fire during naval combat. Advances in peer weaponry and the threat of future conflict emphasize the need for pre-deployment burn care training for all shipboard medical caregivers as well as advanced airway and resuscitation training for non-physician caregivers. This review underscores the profound impact of shipboard fires on crew safety, highlighting the critical need for enhanced preparedness and response strategies to prepare for fire-related mishaps during routine operations and naval combat.
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Critical care medicine · Oct 2024
Doctors as Device Manufacturers? Regulation of Clinician-Generated Innovation in the ICU.
Critical care physicians are rich sources of innovation, developing new diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment tools they deploy in clinical practice, including novel software-based tools. Many of these tools are validated and promise to actively help patients, but physicians may be unlikely to distribute, implement, or share them with other centers noncommercially because of unsettled ethical, regulatory, or medicolegal concerns. This Viewpoint explores the potential barriers and risks critical care physicians face in disseminating device-related innovations for noncommercial purposes and proposes a framework for risk-based evaluation to foster clear pathways to safeguard equitable patient access and responsible implementation of clinician-generated technological innovations in critical care.