Abdominal Trauma
208 Abdominal Trauma Aaron M. Scifres, Andrew B. Peitzman The acutely injured patient requires a rapid, systematic, and thorough evaluation.1,2 The goals of this initial evaluation are to detect and…
Rickettsial Diseases
144 Rickettsial Diseases Diana F. Florescu, Andre C. Kalil Proteobacteria are small gram-negative obligate intracellular organisms that can be divided into two classes: Alphaproteobacteria including Rickettsiaceae (genus Rickettsia) and Anaplasmataceae…
Determination of Brain Death
219 Determination of Brain Death Teresa L. Smith Jacobs, Thomas P. Bleck Determination of death by neurologic criteria is a clinical diagnosis. After certain prerequisites are met, there are three…
Contrast-Induced Nephropathy
117 Contrast-Induced Nephropathy M. Khaled Shamseddin, Brendan Barrett The use of intravascular iodinated radiocontrast media is very prevalent. After injection of these contrast agents, a mild transient kidney function impairment…
Conduction Disturbances and Cardiac Pacemakers
80 Conduction Disturbances and Cardiac Pacemakers Jason Knight, John Sarko Conduction Disturbances Bradyarrhythmias and conduction blocks are common in the ICU. A broad range of clinical presentations and pathologic findings…
Management of Neutropenic Cancer Patients
152 Management of Neutropenic Cancer Patients Michaël Darmon, Élie Azoulay Among patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, 1% to 5% experience toxic side effects or infections and benefit from intensive care unit…
Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy
W15 Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy Cherisse Berry, Daniel R. Margulies Before Procedure Indications • Requirement of a temporary or long-term artificial airway for prolonged mechanical ventilation • Management of secretions •…
Building Teamwork to Improve Outcomes
220 Building Teamwork to Improve Outcomes Maurene A. Harvey, Daleen Aragon Penoyer, Connie Jastremski In the 1990s we realized that in the United States, critical care was unsafe, chaotic, disorganized,…
End-of-Life Issues in the Intensive Care Unit
218 End-of-Life Issues in the Intensive Care Unit Nicholas S. Ward, J. Randall Curtis, Mitchell M. Levy In the last century, the process of dying changed dramatically. Previously, doctors simply…
Conversations with Families of Critically Ill Patients
214 Conversations with Families of Critically Ill Patients Margaret Isaac, J. Randall Curtis Intensive care unit (ICU) family conferences concerning the care of critically ill patients can be watershed events—clarifying…
