Crit Care Resusc
-
Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The Brain Trauma Foundation guidelines advocate for the maintenance of a cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) between 60 and 70 mmHg following severe TBI. However, such a uniform goal does not account for changes in cerebral autoregulation (CA). ⋯ CPPopt represents an alternative target for cerebral haemodynamic optimisation following severe TBI, and early observational data suggest improved neurological outcomes in patients whose CPP is more proximate to CPPopt. The recent publication of a prospective randomised feasibility study of CPPopt guided therapy in TBI, suggests clinicians caring for such patients should be increasingly familiar with these concepts. In this paper, we present a narrative review of the key landmarks in the development of CPPopt and offer a summary of the evidence for CPPopt-based therapy in comparison to current standards of care.
-
To describe the training and accreditation process behind an intensivist-led extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulation program, and identify the rate of complications associated with the ECMO cannulation procedure. ⋯ Our experience of the first four years of an intensivist-led ECMO service demonstrates that our training process and cannulation technique result in the provision of a complex therapy with low levels of complications, on par with those in the published literature.
-
To compare long-term psychological symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in intubated versus non-intubated ICU survivors. ⋯ Nearly one-in-two (47 %) of the intubated and non-intubated ICU survivors reported clinically significant psychological symptoms at 3 and 12-month follow-ups. Overall, more than 30 % at 3-months and over 20 % at 12-months of the survivors in both groups had moderate or worse problems with their usual activities and mobility. The presence of psychological symptoms and HRQOL impairments was similar between the groups.
-
We aimed to describe the characteristics, outcomes and resource utilisation of patients being cared for in an ICU after undergoing elective surgery in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). ⋯ ICU resource utilisation of patients who have undergone elective surgery is substantial. Those patients admitted directly from theatre have good outcomes and low resource utilisation. Patient admitted unplanned from the ward, although fewer, were sicker, more resource intensive and had significantly worse outcomes.
-
Opioid use disorder is extremely common. Many long-term opioid users will have their first exposure to opioids in hospitals. We aimed to compare long-term opioid use in patients who received fentanyl vs. morphine analgosedation and assess ICU related risk factors for long-term opioid use. ⋯ Approximately one in seven opioid-naïve patients who receive analgosedation for mechanical ventilation in ICU will be prescribed opioid medications at hospital discharge. There was no difference in discharge prescription or long-term use of opioids depending on whether fentanyl or morphine was used for analgosedation.