Nutrition in Critical Illness
I. INTRODUCTION. The delivery of calories and protein to a critically ill patient should be considered a high priority that is integral to care, rather than a supportive afterthought. The goals…
Use of Ultrasound in Critical Illness
Critical care ultrasonography (CCUS, or point-of-care ultrasound) has become increasingly popular in the management of critically ill patients as ultrasound technology has progressively become more portable, less expensive, and yet…
Infectious Diseases—Empiric and Emergency Treatment
Infectious disease specialists are often consulted for infections in the critically ill given the degree of diagnostic and therapeutic complexity. That being said, the “first-responder” provider needs to familiarize him-/herself…
Ethical and Legal Issues in ICU Practice
I. INTRODUCTION In caring for critically ill patients, it is inevitable that ethical issues will arise. Patients often have complex medical conditions, multiple providers, and uncertain prognosis or treatment plans. This…
ICU Handoffs and Transitions
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors of the current chapter gratefully acknowledge the contributions of David Shahian, MD, Vice President, and Laura Rossi, RN, Staff Specialist, Center for Quality and Safety, Massachusetts General…
Transfusion Medicine
I. INDICATIONS FOR TRANSFUSION THERAPY. Blood component transfusion is usually performed because of decreased production, increased utilization/destruction or loss, or dysfunction of a specific blood component (red cells, platelets, or coagulation…
Acute Weakness
There are a myriad of causes that can lead to acute weakness in a patient in the intensive care unit. These include diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS), the…
