Recent myocardial infarction
Questions 1. How do you evaluate cardiac risk in a patient scheduled for noncardiac surgery? 2. How is cardiac status evaluated before elective noncardiac surgery? 3. What is the cardiac…
Aortic stenosis
Questions 1. Describe the symptoms of and long-term prognosis for aortic stenosis. 2. Identify the etiology of aortic stenosis. 3. What is the significance of aortic valve area and how…
Congestive heart failure
Questions 1. Name possible etiologies for dilated cardiomyopathy. 2. Explain the pathophysiology of dilated cardiomyopathy. 3. Which monitors would you use for this patient in the perioperative period? 4. How…
Coronary artery disease
Questions 1. What are the determinants of myocardial oxygen supply? 2. Explain the determinants of myocardial oxygen consumption (demand). 3. What are the pharmacologic alternatives for treating myocardial ischemia in…
How Should Acute Spinal Cord Injury Be Managed in the ICU?
Spinal cord injury (SCI) constitutes a major cause of morbidity in the trauma patient. The United States has the highest incidence of traumatic spinal cord injuries, with approximately 40 new…
How Do I Diagnose and Manage Patients Admitted to the ICU After Common Poisonings?
Patients who are critically poisoned present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to critical care staff. Unfortunately, there is no universally accepted management algorithm to aid in the evaluation despite the…
What Is the Role of Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants in the ICU?
At present, the U.S. population uses 23.2 million intensive care unit (ICU) days at an estimated cost of $81.7 billion each year. This equates to 13.4% of hospital costs and…
Does ICU Admission Improve Outcome?
Critically ill patients require different types of organ support. These include invasive therapies such as orotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, inotropic/vasoactive support, invasive monitoring, or continuous renal replacement therapy. This care…
How Does One Diagnose, Treat, and Reduce Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit?
Delirium, a disturbance of consciousness and cognition, may occur in up to 80% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients and is frequently underdiagnosed. Delirium is associated with longer durations of…
What Factors Influence a Family to Support a Decision Withdrawing Life Support?
Most patients who die in the intensive care unit (ICU) do so after having life-sustaining interventions withheld or withdrawn. Evidence suggests that more than 70% of elderly patients in the…
