Anesthesia Key

Acid-Base Disorders KEY POINTS 1 Viewed in isolation, most ABGs defy unique interpretation for cause or mandate immediate action; each blood gas must be evaluated in light of clinical information…

Burns and Inhalational Injury KEY POINTS 1 For burn victims, the keystones of initial therapy are large-volume crystalloid resuscitation and maintenance of the airway. Commonly, isotonic crystalloid (4 mL/kg/% body…

Gastrointestinal Bleeding KEY POINTS 1 Prophylactic treatments can reduce the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients at high risk (e.g., chronic mechanical ventilation, coagulation disorders). Prophylactic methods include acid…

Chest Trauma Coauthored with David Dries, MD KEY POINTS 1 Victims of chest trauma who survive to hospital admission have a generally good prognosis and generally do not require thoracotomy;…

Neurological Emergencies KEY POINTS 1 With the exception of head trauma, metabolic encephalopathy is the most common cause of delirium seen in the ICU. Drug effects, severe sepsis, and hepatic…

Oxygenation Failure, ARDS, and Acute Lung Injury KEY POINTS 1 Six mechanisms may contribute to arterial oxygen desaturation: (a) inhalation of a hypoxic gas mixture, (b) alveolar hypoventilation, (c) impaired…

Endocrine Emergencies KEY POINTS 1 Severe hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism must be suspected and treated on clinical grounds; laboratory tests are often delayed too long to be useful. When beginning treatment…

Acute Kidney Injury and Renal Replacement Therapy KEY POINTS 1 The development of acute kidney injury is associated with a significant increase in mortality in the critically ill patient despite…