Indications Airway access for the treatment of upper airway obstruction or mechanical ventilation (MV) can be obtained by either orotracheal intubation (OTI) or placement of a tracheostomy tube. During general anesthesia or after episodes of acute respiratory failure, patients are…
Introduction Tracheal intubation is a commonly performed, high-risk procedure in critically ill patients. There are important differences between elective intubation in the operating room compared with emergency intubation in the intensive care unit (ICU). Risks associated with emergent intubation in…
Although arterial blood gas (ABG) data provide critical information to the practitioners of critical care medicine, ABG analysis is among the most frequently ordered test in the intensive care unit (ICU), is overused, and is associated with burdens to our…
Pulse oximetry Pulse oximetry is a microprocessor-based measurement that incorporates both oximetry and plethysmography to provide continuous noninvasive monitoring of the oxygen saturation of arterial blood (SpO 2 ). Often considered the “fifth vital sign,” pulse oximetry is one of…
Introduction Over the last decades, cardiovascular monitoring techniques used in the intensive care unit (ICU) and operating room (OR) have progressively evolved from invasive toward less invasive approaches. In the 1990s, the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) was at its apogee,…
Over the past 60 years, echocardiography has undergone substantial developments to become one of the most common modalities in the field of cardiovascular imaging. Starting in the 1980s, technologic advancements and the recognition of its potential moved echocardiographic imaging quickly…
Recent advances in ultrasound technology have allowed ultrasound instruments to become smaller, more portable, and less expensive, so that this powerful imaging tool can be readily and repeatedly used in everyday intensive care unit (ICU) care. The concept of point-of-care…
The identification of myocardial injury is an important problem in the critical care setting. Biomarkers have been used to detect myocardial injury since 1954. Since then, the sensitivity of serologic techniques has increased dramatically. Although increased sensitivity has allowed clinicians…
Initial approach Several life-threatening conditions can cause chest pain in the critically ill, and the initial approach should focus on prompt evaluation and resuscitation of the airway, breathing, and circulation. Assess the patient’s level of consciousness, palpate the pulse, and…
Diarrhea is one of the most common manifestations of gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction in the intensive care unit (ICU); the reported incidence is between 2% and 63%. Diarrhea is best defined as bowel movements that, because of increased frequency, abnormal consistency,…