ICU Management & Practice, Volume 21 - Issue 6, 2021 The Importance of Accurate Glucose Monitoring in Critically Ill Patients The complexity of glucose testing, the limitations of point-of-care blood glucose monitoring systems and the need for accuracy and reliability to ensure optimised patient outcomes. Critically ill patients are not found just in intensive care units, but throughout the hospital: emergency departments, post-anaesthesia care units, op...

ICU Management & Practice, Volume 21 - Issue 6, 2021 Emergencies in Malignant Haematology for the Intensivist An overview of emergencies that are commonly seen in malignant haematology, side effects of novel therapies, and complications of allogeneic haematologic stem cell transplant. Introduction Critical illness is common in patients with haematologic malignancies. Recent data demonstrate that 14% of patients will require ICU admission within one ye...

COMMENT| VOLUME 10, ISSUE 3, P223-224, MARCH 01, 2022 Stimulating severe COVID-19: the potential role of GM-CSF antagonism Helen L Leavis, Frank L van de Veerdonk, Srinivas Murthy Lancet Respir Med 2022; 10: 223-224 Over the past 20 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, a great deal has been crystallised about the ideal therapeutic targets for infected patients. For very sick patients who require hospitalisation, we now know that targeting the dysreg...

ICU Management & Practice, Volume 21 - Issue 6, 2021 Indirect Calorimetry in Mechanically Ventilated Patients to Assess Nutritional Targets An overview of the physiological aspects of indirect calorimetry, its limitations in use, the available literature and future prospects for tailored nutrition. Introduction Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is an essential part of patient care in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. Similar to mechanical ventilati...

ICU Management & Practice, Volume 21 - Issue 6, 2021 Management of Pulmonary Embolism in the Intensive Care Unit Pulmonary embolism is a reason for admission to the Intensive Care Unit and this complication in hospitalised patients is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The identification and management of pulmonary embolism is a challenge for doctors. Introduction Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is the third cardiovascular cause of death since its ...

ICU Management & Practice, Volume 21 - Issue 6, 2021 Anaemia in the Critically Ill: What is the Major Culprit? Anaemia is commonly encountered in the critically ill and is associated with poor outcomes. The cause is multifactorial and includes high hepcidin levels and a blunted response to erythropoietin. Anaemia is defined by haemoglobin (Hb) < 12 g/dL for women and Hb below 13 g/dL for men, according to the WHO (1968). Anaemia is a prevalent conditi...

ICU Management & Practice, Volume 21 - Issue 6, 2021 Nutritional Care for Patients with COVID-19 Requiring Intensive Care Recommendations for the management of nutrition of COVID-19 patients provide guidelines for nutrition risk screening, requirements, timing, route and mode of feeding, monitoring, equipment and workforce requirements. The worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 continues to impact all aspects of intensive care unit (ICU) management, including n...

ICU Management & Practice, Volume 21 - Issue 6, 2021 Reversal of Direct Oral Anticoagulants This review focuses on different techniques to reverse direct oral anticoagulants, either with specific or non-specific agents. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are now standing for Vitamin K antagonists in many clinical settings. They are recognised as a major step forward for our patients. Their efficacy has been confirmed in venous thromboembolism prophy...

What Does ARDS Mean During COVID-19? Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) was described as a syndrome in 1967. At that time, it was defined as a condition characterised by severe hypoxaemia and diffuse bilateral opacities. Diagnosis of ARDS has always been context-dependent, but overall, achievements in traumatic and medical resuscitation and the use of invasive mechanical ventilation have allowed patients with ARDS to live longer. ARDS was always consider...

Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines and Individualised Care Sepsis is a major cause of death in the ICU. It is a complex disease, and treatment is typically guided by evidence-based guidelines. However, it is important to remember that guidelines provide a systematic approach to patient evaluation and treatment decisions, but they are not a compilation of truth. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) Guidelines are the most reliable guidelines used by the intensiv...