Endoscopic Placement of Feeding Tubes Lena M. Napolitano Indications for Enteral Feeding Nutritional support is an essential component of intensive care medicine (see Chapters 190–192). It has become increasingly evident…
Gastroesophageal Balloon Tamponade for Acute Variceal Hemorrhage Marie T. Pavini Juan Carlos Puyana Gastroesophageal variceal hemorrhage is an acute and catastrophic complication that occurs in one-third to one-half of patients…
Paracentesis and Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage Lena M. Napolitano Abdominal Paracentesis Indications Abdominal paracentesis is a simple procedure that can be easily performed at the bedside in the intensive care unit…
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Anupam Singh Randall S. Pellish Wahid Y. Wassef Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy has evolved into an essential diagnostic and therapeutic tool for the treatment of critically ill patients in…
Tracheostomy Scott E. Kopec Timothy A. Emhoff Although reports of performing tracheostomy date back to the first century BC [1], it was not performed regularly until the 1800s when used…
Arterial Puncture for Blood Gas Analysis Kimberly A. Robinson Richard S. Irwin Analysis of a sample of arterial blood for pHa, partial arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2), partial arterial oxygen…
Thoracentesis Mark M. Wilson Richard S. Irwin Thoracentesis is an invasive procedure that involves the introduction of a needle, cannula, or trocar into the pleural space to remove accumulated fluid…
Bronchoscopy Stephen J. Krinzman Paulo J. Oliveira Richard S. Irwin Since its commercial introduction for clinical use in 1968, flexible bronchoscopy has had a dramatic impact on the approach and…
Chest Tube Insertion and Care Ulises Torres Robert A. Lancy Chest tube insertion involves placement of a sterile tube into the pleural space to evacuate air or fluid into a…
Pericardiocentesis Craig S. Smith Richard C. Becker Pericardiocentesis is a potentially life-saving procedure performed in the critical care setting. In contrast to other cardiac conditions, however, there is a paucity…
