Month January 2019
CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Sodium Valproate

Sodium Valproate: anticonvulsant; decreasing neuronal excitability or enhancing inhibition of neuronal transmission.

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Protamine

Protamine: neutralization of heparin. Strongly basic protamine + strongly acid heparin -> forms stable salt -> removed by reticuloendothelial system.

CCC Critical Care Compendium 680

Atrial Fibrillation DDx

Atrial fibrillation is an irregularly irregular tachydysrhythmia characterised by the presence of chaotic fibrillation waves on ECG, rather than p waves, due to disorganised electrical activity in the atria.

amazonian catfish toothpick fish candiru 340

The Candirú

Having a toothpick fish (the Candiru) take a detour up your urethra doesn't really bear thinking about. Apparently the worst thing that can happen to a parasite is to end up inside the wrong host...

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Sucralfate

Sucralfate: aluminium salt of sulphated sucrose; forms viscous paste -> adheres to ulcers via ionic binding -> acts as a barrier to the diffusion of acid, pepsin and bile salts

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Tazocin

Tazocin = piperacillin-tazobactam; broad spectrum penicillin + beta-lactamase

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Thoracic Epidural Analgesia for Chest Trauma

Rib fractures are associated with significant morbidity, especially in the elderly and especially if multiple fractures are present. Apart from being humane, optimal analgesia may help prevent respiratory deterioration

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Sedation in ICU

Sedation is the depression of a patient's awareness to the environment and reduction of his or her responsiveness to external stimulation

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Intrinsic PEEP

Intrinsic PEEP is also known as autoPEEP or PEEPi. Intrinsic PEEP occurs when the expiratory time is shorter than the time needed to fully deflate the lungs, preventing the lung and chest wall from reaching an elastic equilibrium point

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Tramadol

Tramadol: synthetic opioid of the aminocyclohexanol group; centrally acting opioid receptor agonist + more!