Critical care clinics
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Critical care clinics · Oct 2020
ReviewHow to Start an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Cardiac Program.
In this review the authors introduce a practical approach to guide the initiation of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) cardiac surgery program. The first step in implementation is organizing a dedicated multidisciplinary ERAS cardiac team composed of representatives from nursing, surgery, anesthesiology, and other relevant allied health groups. Identifying a program coordinator or navigator who will have responsibilities for developing and implementing educational initiatives, troubleshooting, monitoring progress and setbacks, and data collection is also vital for success. An institution-specific protocol is then developed by leveraging national guidelines and local expertise.
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Critical care clinics · Oct 2020
ReviewPreoperative Treatment of Malnutrition and Sarcopenia in Cardiac Surgery: New Frontiers.
Cardiac surgery is performed more often in a population with an increasing number of comorbidities. Although these surgeries can be lifesaving, they disturb homeostasis and may induce a temporary overall loss of physiologic function. ⋯ Prehabilitation before elective surgery might be an opportunity to optimize the state of the patient. This article discusses current evidence and potential effects of preoperative optimization of nutrition and physical status before cardiac surgery.
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Prolonged intubation and mechanical ventilation following cardiac surgery have been associated with increased hospital and intensive care unit length of stays; higher health care costs; and morbidity resulting from atelectasis, intrapulmonary shunting, and pneumonia. Early extubation was developed as a strategy in the 1990s to reduce the high-dose opiate regimes and long ventilator times. Early extubation is a key component of the enhanced recovery pathway following cardiac surgery and enables early mobilization and early return to a normal diet. The plan to extubate should start as soon as the patient is scheduled for cardiac surgery and continue throughout the perioperative period.
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Airway management during cardiac arrest has undergone several advancements. Endotracheal intubation (ETI) often is considered the gold standard for airway management in cardiac arrest; however, other options exist. ⋯ ETI, if performed early in resuscitation, is associated with worse patient outcomes and has been de-emphasized so as not to interfere with other aspects of the resuscitation. Hyperventilation has multiple theoretic harms during cardiac arrest, and methods, such as compression-adjusted ventilation, may be utilized to help reduce the incidence of hyperventilation.
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Critical care clinics · Oct 2020
ReviewCurrent Work in Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
The use of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) to resuscitate patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is increasing in the United States and the developed world. This approach to treatment is appealing, because it can restore prearrest levels of perfusion to the brain and vital organs while the cause of the arrest is addressed. In this article, the authors highlight current ECPR program development and discuss controversies.