Patients who are critically poisoned present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to critical care staff. Unfortunately, there is no universally accepted management algorithm to aid in the evaluation despite the…
At present, the U.S. population uses 23.2 million intensive care unit (ICU) days at an estimated cost of $81.7 billion each year. This equates to 13.4% of hospital costs and…
Critically ill patients require different types of organ support. These include invasive therapies such as orotracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation, inotropic/vasoactive support, invasive monitoring, or continuous renal replacement therapy. This care…
Delirium, a disturbance of consciousness and cognition, may occur in up to 80% of intensive care unit (ICU) patients and is frequently underdiagnosed. Delirium is associated with longer durations of…
Most patients who die in the intensive care unit (ICU) do so after having life-sustaining interventions withheld or withdrawn. Evidence suggests that more than 70% of elderly patients in the…
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rapidly progressive motor, sensory, and autonomic neuropathic disorder that may present to critical care with acute respiratory failure or bulbar palsy. Correct diagnosis and implementation…
More than 500,000 burn injuries occur annually in the United States. Although most are minor, approximately 40,000 to 60,000 burn patients require admission to a hospital or major burn center…
In this chapter, we review the evidence for the association between intensive care unit (ICU) organization and optimal care delivery. In addition, we review the evidence for ICU organization within…
Critical care resources should be allocated in ways that promote high-quality care, defined by the Institute of Medicine as care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. However,…
The critically ill patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) is at risk for arterial and venous thromboembolic events, including pulmonary embolism (PE), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and acute coronary…
