Current opinion in critical care
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Jun 2021
ReviewDiaphragm function in acute respiratory failure and the potential role of phrenic nerve stimulation.
The aim of this review was to describe the risk factors for developing diaphragm dysfunction, discuss the monitoring techniques for diaphragm activity and function, and introduce potential strategies to incorporate diaphragm protection into conventional lung-protective mechanical ventilation strategies. ⋯ Diaphragm protection is an important consideration in optimizing ventilator management in patients with acute respiratory failure. The delicate balance between lung and diaphragm-protective goals is challenging. Phrenic nerve stimulation may be uniquely situated to achieve and balance these two commonly conflicting goals.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Jun 2021
ReviewActivation of citizen responders to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
To discuss different approaches to citizen responder activation and possible future solutions for improved citizen engagement in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitation. ⋯ Implementation of citizen responder programs holds the potential to improve bystander intervention in OHCA, with advancing technology offering new improvement possibilities. Information on how to best activate citizen responders as well as the effect on survival following OHCA is warranted to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of citizen responder programs.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Jun 2021
ReviewClinical use of peripheral perfusion parameters in septic shock.
Current goals of resuscitation in septic shock are mainly a fixed volume of fluids and vasopressors to correct hypotension and improve tissue perfusion indicated by decreasing lactate levels. ⋯ Septic shock patients with normal peripheral perfusion represent a different clinical phenotype of patients that might benefit from limited resuscitation efforts. Parameters of peripheral perfusion could be used to guide the individualization of patients with septic shock.
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Recent studies have failed to show significant benefit from a uniform strategy, suggesting that hemodynamic management must be individually adapted in septic shock depending on different phenotypes. Different approaches that may be used to this end will be discussed. ⋯ Different hemodynamic phenotypes can occur at any stage of sepsis and be associated with one another. The clinician must regularly assess dynamic changes in phenotypes in septic shock patients. Statistical approaches based on machine learning need to be validated by prospective studies.
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Obesity prevalence is increasing in most countries in the world. In the United States, 42% of the population is obese (body mass index (BMI) > 30) and 9.2% is obese class III (BMI > 40). One of the greatest challenges in critically ill patients with obesity is the optimization of mechanical ventilation. The goal of this review is to describe respiratory physiologic changes in patients with obesity and discuss possible mechanical ventilation strategies to improve respiratory function. ⋯ Obesity greatly alters the respiratory system mechanics causing atelectasis and prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation. At present, novel strategies to ventilate patients with obesity based on individual respiratory physiology showed to be superior to those based on standard universal tables of mechanical ventilation. Esophageal manometry and EIT are essential tools to systematically assess respiratory system mechanics, safely adjust relatively high levels of PEEP, and improve chances for successful weaning.