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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
I. COSTS AND BURDEN OF CRITICAL CARE A. Caring for the critically ill or injured is a complex and resource-intensive endeavor. There are roughly 6,000 intensive care units in the United States,…
