Gastrointestinal Bleeding KEY POINTS 1 Prophylactic treatments can reduce the incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients at high risk (e.g., chronic mechanical ventilation, coagulation disorders). Prophylactic methods include acid…
Chest Trauma Coauthored with David Dries, MD KEY POINTS 1 Victims of chest trauma who survive to hospital admission have a generally good prognosis and generally do not require thoracotomy;…
Acute Abdomen KEY POINTS 1 Patients in the ICU rarely have typical presentations of acute abdominal conditions —low-grade fever, mild agitation, or tube-feeding intolerance may be the only clues. 2…
Neurological Emergencies KEY POINTS 1 With the exception of head trauma, metabolic encephalopathy is the most common cause of delirium seen in the ICU. Drug effects, severe sepsis, and hepatic…
Oxygenation Failure, ARDS, and Acute Lung Injury KEY POINTS 1 Six mechanisms may contribute to arterial oxygen desaturation: (a) inhalation of a hypoxic gas mixture, (b) alveolar hypoventilation, (c) impaired…
Endocrine Emergencies KEY POINTS 1 Severe hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism must be suspected and treated on clinical grounds; laboratory tests are often delayed too long to be useful. When beginning treatment…
Drug Overdose and Poisoning KEY POINTS 1 With little intervention, the outcome for most victims of poisoning is excellent. Supportive care, with particular attention to maintaining an airway, oxygenation, and…
Acute Kidney Injury and Renal Replacement Therapy KEY POINTS 1 The development of acute kidney injury is associated with a significant increase in mortality in the critically ill patient despite…
Hepatic Failure KEY POINTS 1 Only hepatic failure caused by acetaminophen has an effective specific therapy; therefore, supportive care is the basis for treating most patients. In selected cases, transplantation…
Clotting and Bleeding Disorders and Anticoagulation Therapy KEY POINTS 1 A prothrombin time, an activated partial thromboplastin time, and a platelet count done after a careful detailed history, which includes…
