Current opinion in critical care
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has posed great challenges to intensive care units (ICUs) across the globe. The objective of this review is to provide an overview on how ICU surging was managed during COVID-19 pandemic, with a special focus on papers published in the last 18 months. ⋯ Although healthcare systems learned how to face some of the challenges with subsequent waves, the pandemic had persistent effects on healthcare systems.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2022
ReviewCoronavirus disease 2019 aftermath: psychological trauma in ICU healthcare workers.
We aim to describe the extent of psychological trauma and moral distress in healthcare workers (HCW) working in the intensive care unit (ICU) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Specifically, we review reports on prevalence of mental health symptoms, highlight vulnerable populations and summarize modifiable risk factors associated with mental health symptoms in ICU HCW. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted ICU HCW worldwide. The psychological trauma, manifesting as posttraumatic stress disorder, burnout, anxiety, and depression, is substantial and concerning. Urgent action by lawmakers and healthcare administrators is required to protect ICU HCW and sustain a healthy workforce.
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To describe different strategies adopted during coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic to cope with the shortage of mechanical ventilators. ⋯ The experience and evidence gained during the current pandemic is of paramount importance for physicians and law-makers to plan in advance an appropriate response to any future similar crisis. Intensive care unit, hospital, national and international policies can all be improved to build systems capable of treating an unexpectedly large number of patients, while keeping a high standard of safety.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Dec 2022
ReviewLung transplantation in patients with lung disease secondary to coronavirus disease 2019 infection.
In this article, we describe preoperative patient selection and outcomes of patients with lung disease secondary to infection from COVID-19 who receive lung transplantation. ⋯ Patients with respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19 infection that require a lung transplant generally have a complicated preoperative course and the operations are more complex, but the long-term outcomes are excellent.
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Transfusion of blood products is lifesaving in the trauma ICU. Intensivists must be familiar with contemporary literature to develop the optimal transfusion strategy for each patient. ⋯ Hemorrhagic shock is the leading cause of death in trauma. Improved resuscitation strategy has been one of the most important contemporary advancements in trauma care and continues to be a key area of clinical research.