Most patients who die in the intensive care unit (ICU) do so after having life-sustaining interventions withheld or withdrawn.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…
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rapidly progressive motor, sensory, and autonomic neuropathic disorder that may present to critical care with acute respiratory failure or bulbar palsy. Correct diagnosis and implementation…
More than 500,000 burn injuries occur annually in the United States. Although most are minor, approximately 40,000 to 60,000 burn patients require admission to a hospital or major burn center…
In this chapter, we review the evidence for the association between intensive care unit (ICU) organization and optimal care delivery. In addition, we review the evidence for ICU organization within…
Critical care resources should be allocated in ways that promote high-quality care, defined by the Institute of Medicine as care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. However,…
The critically ill patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) is at risk for arterial and venous thromboembolic events, including pulmonary embolism (PE), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and acute coronary…
Transfusion of blood products is one of the most common therapies ordered in the intensive care unit (ICU). It is estimated that 4 million patients are transfused a total of…
Status epilepticus (SE) may be defined as continuous clinical and/or electrographic seizures lasting at least 5 minutes or recurrent discrete seizures without interictal recovery of consciousness. It is a medical…
Alterations in the gut and immune function are proposed to play an important role in the pathophysiology and progression of critical illness, especially in sepsis. Because the treatment of most…
Anabolism is the enzymatic process by which nutrients and energy are used to synthesize molecules in living cells. In contrast, catabolism involves chemical reactions that lead to the degradation of…
