Critical Care Scenarios

A restless patient experiences a series of dyssynchrony events during mechanical ventilation. Come see how Bryan wades through it all, and allow us to offer an academic, yet practical approach to this sometimes-confusing subject. Case files Takeaway lessons Start with ABCs and stabilizing the patient, then put on your thinking cap and try to optimize … Continue reading "Episode 10: Ventilator dyss...

The book Buy the new textbook (Bryan edited, Brandon authored a chapter) here or on Amazon: Concepts in Surgical Critical Care, First Edition ed. Bryan Boling, DNP, ACNP; Kevin Hatton, MD, FCCM; Tonja Hartjes, DNP, ACNP-BC, CCRN, FAANP The podcast The second piece of our in-depth look at the management of right heart failure, with … Continue reading "Episode 9: Right heart failure and the SAVIOR p...

The book Buy the new textbook (Bryan edited, Brandon authored a chapter) here or on Amazon: Concepts in Surgical Critical Care, First Edition ed. Bryan Boling, DNP, ACNP; Kevin Hatton, MD, FCCM; Tonja Hartjes, DNP, ACNP-BC, CCRN, FAANP The podcast An in-depth look at the management of right heart failure, with a focus on preserving … Continue reading "Episode 9: Right heart failure and the SAVIOR...

The second part of our look at a case of catastrophic intracranial hemorrhage, with a focus on goals of care, family interaction, prognostication, and other end-of-life aspects, with neurointensivist and palliative care physician Jess McFarlin (@JessMcFarlinMD). See Part 1 here. Takeaway lessons Useful phrase: “Can I tell you what to expect during the dying time?” … Continue reading "Episode 8: Pa...

Neurointensivist and palliative care physician Jess McFarlin (@JessMcFarlinMD) walks us through a case of catastrophic intracranial hemorrhage, with a focus on goals of care, family interaction, prognostication, and other end-of-life aspects. See Part 2 here. Takeaway lessons We can undo most things except death, so in most cases, a short trial (perhaps 3 days) of … Continue reading "Episode 7: Pa...

Neurologist and neurointensivist Gracia Mui shows us the workup, initial management, and escalation of care for a case of refractory status epilepticus. Takeaway lessons First-time unprovoked seizures usually need no further workup except screening for an underlying trigger, such as a tox screen, basic chemistries, and imaging as appropriate. Initial seizure therapy: wait around 5 … Continue readi...

Cardiothoracic critical care PA Brendan Riordan (@concernecus) shows us his initial approach to the patient in cardiogenic shock, including initiating mechanical support, managing ECMO (plus Impella), and eventual weaning and discontinuation of support. Some pearls Anticoagulation on VA ECMO can be titrated to bleeding risk, with a balance between bleeding and circuit longevity—the latter being …...

A fast-tracked update: what we know about the active pandemic of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and its resulting respiratory syndrome, COVID-19. Takeaway lessons Treat like viral pneumonia/ARDS. High PEEP. Prone early. Keep fluid balance dry. Probably avoid CPAP/BiPAP except perhaps for very short trials. Unclear role for HFNC. Watch out for myocarditis-type picture with cardiogenic … Continu...

Intensivist and passionate slayer of venous congestion Philippe Rola (@thinkingcc) shows us how to deresuscitate the septic patient, with guidance from his handy ultrasound. Takeaway lessons Fluid overload is harmful and should be actively reduced, even in a patient in active shock; it will not harm them. The VEXUS exam is a good method for … Continue reading "Episode 4: Venous congestion with Phi...

What stops do you make along the garden path of hypoxic respiratory failure? Resources References An ARDS review: Fan E, Brodie D, Slutsky A. Acute Respiratory Distress: Syndrome Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment. JAMA. 2018;319(7):698-710 Lung protective ventilation (The original ARDSnet ARMA trial): Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Network, Brower RG, Matthay MA, et al. Ventilation with … C...

A tricky case of refractory heart failure. Case files Resources References Champion S, Belcour D, Vandroux D, et al. Stress (Tako-tsubo) cardiomyopathy in critically-ill patients. Eur Heart J. 2015;4(2):189-96. Chockalingam A. Stress cardiomyopathy of the critically ill: Spectrum of secondary, global, probable and subclinical forms. Indian Heart J. 2018;70(1):177-84. Dawson D. Acute stress-induced...

A troubling case of a painful finger. Resources References Stevens DL, Bryant AE. Necrotizing Soft-Tissue Infections. N Engl J Med. 2017 Dec 7;377(23):2253-2265. Bechar J, Sepehripour S, Hardwicke J, Filobbos G. Laboratory risk indicator for necrotising fasciitis (LRINEC) score for the assessment of early necrotising fasciitis: a systematic review of the literature. Ann R Coll … Continue reading "...

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