Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia Introduction Hypoglycemia is the rate-limiting factor when treating people with diabetes. Most often hypoglycemia is from diabetes medications. Careful review of the person’s daily schedule (meals and activity) can…
Navigating Diabetes Treatments
Navigating Diabetes Treatments Introduction There are many treatments for type 2 diabetes including 13 classes of medications. While this might be great in terms of having choices to individualize therapy,…
Anticipating and Responding to Major Life Changes
Anticipating and Responding to Major Life Changes Introduction Diabetes is a lifelong condition. And, as with any chronic disease when circumstances change, modifications must be made. This chapter focuses on…
Key Aspects of Treatment
Key Aspects of Treatment Introduction Having a plan and taking action are key aspects of helping people manage their diabetes. It is also important to recognize that, because diabetes is…
Anticoagulation and Bleeding Management
When I am consenting a family for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and discussing the risks and benefits to initiating support, bleeding and clotting are the most common risks that are…
Pharmacokinetics
Next time you are reviewing the chart for your patient, take a look at the medication administration record. Every entry represents a decision – a decision to alter the physiology…
Ventilator Management on ECMO
By this point you have probably developed a healthy skepticism for the ventilator. While remaining an undeniable cornerstone in the support of critically ill patients, we have gone into the…
Sweep Gas Flow Titration
Adjustments to sweep gas flow are probably the most common adjustments that you will make in the course of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) run. While it is entirely feasible…
Blood Flow Titration
Imagine that you are initiating a patient on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The cannulas are in excellent position and the circuit is connected and ready to go. You release the…
Central Veno-Arterial ECMO Physiology
We will now continue our exploration of VA ECMO physiology by considering the physiology of centrally cannulated VA ECMO. The proportion of central cannulation is largely facility dependent. While some…
