Long-COVID, Post-Sepsis-Syndrome, Post-Intensive-Care-Syndrome - How Are They Related? In Sepsis Mon, 2 Sep 2024 A recent review addresses the challenge of categorising new persistent symptoms that patients experience after recovering from ICU-treated sepsis caused by COVID-19. It explores whether these symptoms fit into one of the following categories: Long-COVID, Post-Sepsis Syndrome, or Post-Intensive-Care Syndrome. It also considers if patients mig...

Global Burden of Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance In ICU Thu, 3 Oct 2024 In 2014, the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) predicted that AMR could lead to 10 million deaths by 2050, prompting global attention and commitments from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN). Despite these efforts, national action plans to combat AMR have seen uneven implementation and funding, leading to uncertain progress.  A global e...

Conservative vs Liberal Oxygen Targets in VA-ECMO In ICU Mon, 2 Sep 2024 Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) is increasingly used for treating cardiogenic shock and refractory cardiac arrest but involves significant risks and resource demands. It improves blood flow and oxygen content but often results in arterial hyperoxaemia. Although hyperoxaemia can be managed by adjusting the ECMO circuit and ventilator, the optimal oxygenat...

Awake prone positioning for COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure: unknown appropriate duration Zeng, G., Wang, L  Intensive Care Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-024-07637-8 In a recent issue of Intensive Care Medicine, we read with great interest the article by Liu et al. [1] who conducted a trial to explore whether prolonged awake prone positioning (APP) would reduce the rate of intubation at 28 days when compared with a shorter perio...

The Ventilator of the Future In ICU Mon, 2 Sep 2024 Mechanical ventilation with positive pressure aims to deliver well-conditioned gas, ensure lung expansion, and monitor key parameters like airway pressures and tidal volume (VT). Despite technological advancements, current invasive ventilation has limitations, particularly for critically ill patients who require timely, precise interventions. Positive pressure ventilation can cause haemodynamic issues...

Interprofessional Familiarity Improves Outcomes in Mechanically Ventilated Adults In ICU Mon, 5 Aug 2024 Over 1 million patients with acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation are admitted to ICUs every year, with a one-in-five mortality rate. While interventions like lung-protective ventilation, prone positioning, and protocols such as spontaneous awakening and breathing trials are crucial, there's a growing interest in optimising sta...

Review  August 12, 2024 Perioperative Management of Patients Taking Direct Oral Anticoagulants: A Review James D. Douketis, Alex C. Spyropoulos JAMA. Published online August 12, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.12708 Abstract Importance  Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), comprising apixaban, rivaroxaban, edoxaban, and dabigatran, are commonly used medications to treat patients with atrial fibrillation and venous ...

Prolonged vs Shorter Awake Prone Positioning - COVID-19 With Acute Respiratory Failure In ICU Mon, 5 Aug 2024 Awake prone positioning has been shown to reduce endotracheal intubation in patients with COVID-19-related acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (AHRF). This method has also become standard care for patients with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).  During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies suggested that awak...

Prolonged awake prone positioning in COVID-19: recommendations and outlook Lei, R., Yue, C., Li, R. et al. Intensive Care Med (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-024-07640-z We read with great interest the article by Liu et al. recently published in Intensive Care Medicine [1]. This landmark study conducted a multicenter, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of prolonged versus shorter awake prone positioning on intubation rates and mortality in...

Barriers to Female Leadership in Intensive Care Medicine In ICU Mon, 26 Aug 2024 The field of intensive care medicine faces a significant gender imbalance in leadership positions, with women underrepresented due to various factors, including gender bias, societal messages, and a confidence gap that leads to self-censorship. Many qualified women face obstacles like outdated leadership models and systemic biases, which hinder their advancement. To add...