GLOBAL WEAN Study: Spontaneous Breathing Trials and an Individualised Approach In ICU Mon, 4 Nov 2024 Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving treatment widely used in ICUs. Determining whether patients can be safely removed from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) after recovery is complex. Spontaneous breathing trials (SBT) evaluate a patient’s ability to breathe independently. Various SBT methods are employed, leading to inconsistent practices acro...

Early Mobilisation - When Evidence Comes to Single Patients In ICU Tue, 1 Oct 2024 ICU Management & Practice, Volume 24 - Issue 4, 2024 Early mobilisation within 72 hours of ICU admission mitigates risks including reduced functionality and cognitive decline in critically ill patients, improving outcomes such as mobility and quality of life. Overcoming barriers through flexible staffing, protocols, and personalised care strategies is essential t...

Mobilisation Matters: Strategies for Efficient Patient Care  In ICU Tue, 1 Oct 2024 ICU Management & Practice, Volume 24 - Issue 4, 2024 Post-Intensive Care Syndrome encompasses long-term physical, cognitive, and mental impairments, impacting patients' quality of life. Early mobilisation is known to improve functionality. However, clinical practice often falls short of guidelines due to barriers like haemodynamic and respiratory instabilit...

Invited Commentary  December 16, 2024 Rethinking Palliative Interventions in Critical Care—When More Is Not Better Kieran L. Quinn, MD, PhD1,2,3; Rebecca Rodin, MD, MSc4; James DownarJAMA Intern Med. Published online December 16, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2024.6848 The intensive care unit (ICU) may be the hospital’s unrecognized epicenter for people with palliative care needs. Several existing clinical trials have tested palliative care in...

Burnout, Depression, Physician Wellbeing in Critical Care  In ICU Mon, 28 Oct 2024 A recent article published in the New England Journal of Medicine outlines the need to address the growing crisis in physician wellbeing and for hospital systems and medical schools to implement evidence-based strategies.  The authors emphasise the fact that this is important for the future of healthcare and for building a healthier workforce moving forward....

Hypothermia vs Normothermia in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest In ICU Mon, 28 Oct 2024 Temperature control in managing post-anoxic brain injury remains debated. The Hypothermia versus Normothermia after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (TTM-2) trial showed no improvement in mortality or functional outcomes with therapeutic hypothermia at 33 °C in unconscious out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients, compared to early fever avoidance (keeping the cor...

Early Mobilisation: Movements, Barriers and Complications In ICU Tue, 1 Oct 2024 ICU Management & Practice, Volume 24 - Issue 4, 2024 Early mobilisation includes several progressive kinds of movements. Many barriers and safety concerns must be addressed to allow a smooth and effective introduction of this procedure in the ICU daily practice. Introduction Early mobilisation is recommended as part of a multi-component, nonpharmacological strateg...

The ABCs of Physical Therapy for Solid Organ Transplant Patients In ICU Tue, 1 Oct 2024 ICU Management & Practice, Volume 24 - Issue 4, 2024 Physical therapy is essential for improving outcomes and quality of life in solid organ transplant patients. This paper outlines the fundamental principles ("ABCs") of physical therapy, focusing on evidence-based practices and pre- and post-transplant care to guide healthcare professionals in optimising re...

Early Mobilisation in ICU: Current Practice and Areas for Improvement  In ICU Tue, 1 Oct 2024 ICU Management & Practice, Volume 24 - Issue 4, 2024 A literature review to highlight how early mobilisation can improve patient-important outcomes, including length of ICU and hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation and overall quality of life in ICU survivors and the risks associated with EM and barriers to safe implementation of curre...

Hospital Readmission After Surviving Sepsis In Sepsis Mon, 21 Oct 2024 Sepsis affects nearly 50 million people globally. Survivors face significant long-term issues like reduced quality of life and frequent hospital readmissions. Studies show that 21.4% of survivors are readmitted within 30 days and 39% by one year, with sepsis-related readmissions being costlier than those for other conditions like heart failure or myocardial infarction. Many readm...