Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a catastrophic syndrome that occurs very soon after delivery and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the diagnosis is often missed, or at the very least delayed. In this podcast, we discuss the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of this critical illness. Check it out!
Up to 25% of critically ill patients who undergo RSI and endotracheal intubation (ETI) may suffer cardiovascular collapse.? Many clinicians administer IVFs during RSI and ETI in hopes of preventing cardiovascular collapse, though this has never been studied…until now.? In this podcast we discuss the results of the recently published PrePARE Trial, as well as provide some thoughts on maximizing a patient’s physiology before performing ETI.
Current guidelines for post-cardiac arrest management recommend TTM (32C to 36C) for all patients with coma after resuscitation from cardiac arrest. The benefit of TTM is primarily seen in patients who present with a shockable rhythm. However, nonshockable rhythms are now the most common presenting rhythm in patients with cardiac arrest. The use of TTM in patients with nonshockable rhythms remains controversial. In this podcast, we discuss the latest randomized article on the use of TTM in patients with cardiac arrest with a nonshockable rhythm. Should these results change YOUR practice?
Given the development of ED-ICUs and the ever increasing boarding of critically ill patients in the ED, extubation in the ED has become a more common practice. Selecting the appropriate patient and following a practical, organized approach is paramount to safely and successfully performing this procedure. In this podcast, we discuss the pearls and pitfalls of ED Extubation. Simply an outstanding discussion that you can’t miss!
Over the past decade, the annual hours of critical care delivered in US emergency departments has sharply risen. Undoubtedly, many critically ill patients remain in the ED for numerous hours awaiting an ICU bed.  In an attempt to improve the delivery of critical care to boarding ED patients, several hospitals and health care systems have recently implemented ED-based ICUs.  In this podcast, we discuss a recent article published in JAMA Open Network evaluating the impact on mortality and resource utilization of an ED-based ICU.
Over 500,000 patients suffer sudden cardiac arrest each year in the United States. Though survival rates are improving, there remains significant variation in outcomes by region. In recent years, numerous advances in post-resuscitation care have been associated with improved outcomes. In this podcast, we discuss the key elements of post-arrest care along with current controversies. Most importantly, we discuss what you NEED to know when caring for the post-arrest patient in order to maximize outcomes!
The World’s population is aging. By 2030, 20 percent of the US population will be over the age of 65 years.  Older patients have a number of age-related physiologic changes that impact their disease presentation and resuscitation.  In this podcast, we review common physiologic changes in the geriatric patient and provide critical resuscitation pearls when confronted with the sick, geriatric patient.
With increasing water temperatures, there is a rise in the incidence of V.vulnificus infections in non-endemic regions. Patients with V.vulnificus infection are often critically ill, can quickly decompensate, and crash within hours. In this podcast, we discuss the clinical characteristics of this serious infection, along with the current treatments of choice. A very hot and timely topic!
ICH accounts for approximately 15 percent of all strokes.  Despite improvements in neurocritical care, the mortality for patients with ICH can still reach 50 percent at 1-year, with many left with significant residual deficits.  Patients with an ICH who are taking an oral anticoagulant medication tend to have larger ICH volumes, more frequent IVH, and a greater frequency of hematoma expansion.  In this podcast, we review the latest recommendations on reversing anticoagulant medications in patients with an ICH. This is information you can’t afford to miss!
A critical component to post-arrest care for the patient with ROSC following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is early coronary angiography. Current guidelines recommend immediate cardiac angiography for patients with evidence of a STEMI on their post-arrest ECG. For the more common scenario of non-diagnostic ECGs, the role of early coronary angiography remains uncertain. In this podcast, superstar Amal Mattu joins us to discuss an article just published in the New England Journal of Medicine on early coronary angiography for patients without evidence of STEMI following ROSC.