Editorial  October 9, 2024 Evaluating Complex Technological Innovations in Critical Care—Current Challenges and Future Directions Kelly C. Vranas, Jeremy M. Kahn JAMA. Published online October 9, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.19854 The benefits of the intensive care unit (ICU) for delivering high-quality care and improving survival for critically ill patients are primarily due to the people who work there—the specialized physicians, nurses, and...

EDITORIAL Amino Acid Infusion to Protect Kidney Function after Cardiac Surgery Marlies Ostermann, Andrew D. Shaw N Engl J Med 2024;391:759-760 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMe2408632 Cardiac surgery–associated acute kidney injury (AKI) is linked to adverse outcomes including an increased risk of death, postoperative complications, and higher rates of incident or progressive chronic kidney disease.1,2 The cause of cardiac surgery–associated AKI is multifactorial. It ...

Editorial  October 9, 2024 Shifting Balance of the Risk-Benefit of Restrictive Transfusion Strategies in Neurocritically Ill Patients—Is Less Still More? Alexis F. Turgeon, François Lauzier JAMA. Published online October 9, 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.20416 Acute neurological injuries, especially traumatic brain injuries and subarachnoid hemorrhages, often affect young and previously healthy patients with years of active life to come. Mortali...

Proton-Pump Inhibitors to Prevent Gastrointestinal Bleeding In ICU Tue, 18 Jun 2024 A recent systematic review evaluated the effectiveness and safety of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) for preventing stress ulcers in critically ill patients. The review included randomised trials that compared PPIs with placebo or no prophylaxis in critically ill adults. Meta-analyses were performed, and evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Asses...

Nasal Microbiota - Potential Diagnostic Biomarker for Sepsis In Sepsis Thu, 13 Jun 2024 A new study published in Microbiology Spectrum reveals that the nasal microbiota of ICU patients can effectively distinguish between sepsis and non-sepsis cases, outperforming gut microbiota in predicting sepsis. These findings have implications for developing diagnostic strategies and advancing critical care medicine. Historically, the focus has been more on the...

Invited Commentary  August 7, 2024 Surgeon Type and Anastomotic Leaks in Ovarian Cancer Alexandra C. Istl, Nerlyne Desravines, Ugwuji N. Maduekwe JAMA Surg. Published online August 7, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2024.2929 For patients with advanced ovarian cancer, cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and platinum-based chemotherapy are pillars of treatment.1 Optimal completeness of cytoreduction, which may necessitate multivisceral resections, aim...

CENTER-TBI - Haemoglobin Values, Transfusion Practices, Outcomes In ICU Wed, 19 Jun 2024 Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause lasting cognitive, motor, and emotional issues. Despite advances in emergency care and neurosurgery, the long-term effects of TBI remain challenging for patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. Managing TBI focuses on preventing secondary brain injuries, which can develop hours to days after the initial trauma...

Invited Commentary  August 7, 2024 Is Too Much Oxygen a Bad Thing? Bryant Fisher, Kathirvel Subramaniam, Danny Chu JAMA Surg. Published online August 7, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2024.2921 The current referenced double-blind randomized clinical trial by Lopez and others1 compared strategies of intraoperative hyperoxia vs normoxia during elective cardiac surgery to assess the impact on oxidative stress and clinical markers of end-organ d...

1‑h Bundle and Mortality in Patients With Suspected Sepsis In Sepsis Wed, 3 Jul 2024 Sepsis and septic shock, caused by a dysregulated response to infection, affect nearly 50 million people globally, resulting in approximately 11 million deaths. Early identification and management, including source control, antimicrobial therapy, and fluid resuscitation, are associated with reduced mortality. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) recommends a sepsis bund...

Tele-Critical Care Nursing: The Well-Established Predecessor of Today’s Virtual Nursing Cited more than 100 times in other publications, A Second Set of Eyes: An Introduction to Tele-ICU was published by Susan Goran in 2010 (Goran 2010). Goran described “the tele-ICU is that ‘second set of eyes’ that provides additional clinical surveillance and support”. She went on to explain how inadequate nurse staffing was “linked to medication errors, increased risk of ...