Month January 2019
CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Vitamin D in Critical illness

OVERVIEW Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin with dermal synthesis being the major natural source Main clinically significant role is in maintaining calcium homeostasis and bone metabolism There is an increasing appreciation for its pleiotropic effects, including immunomodulatory and…

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Thiamine Deficiency

OVERVIEW ACTIONS CAUSES CLINICAL FEATURES Dry Beri-Beri Wernicke encephalopathy Korsakoff encephalopathy Wet Beri-Beri INVESTIGATIONS MANAGEMENT Prevention and treatment of thiamine deficiency Prevention and treatment of thiamine deficiency in severe alcoholics Treatment of Wernicke encephalopathy Supportive care monitoring SHOULD THIAMINE BE…

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy: hepatic dysfunction + microvesicular infiltration of hepatocytes; thought to be a variant of PET; fetal and maternal mortality = 20%

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Burns and Pregnancy

Burns and Pregnancy: at risk of premature labour due to high levels of circulating prostaglandins; fluid replacement must cater for increased circulating volume

CCC Critical Care compendium 1200

Eclampsia

Eclampsia: life threatening situation for the mother and baby. 1:2000 pregnancies; most occur in 3rd trimester; 1/3 post-partum; usually with in 24hrs of delivery; vasogenic cerebral oedema from hypertensive encephalopathy

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Haemorrhage and Pregnancy

Hemorrhage and Pregnancy: gravid uterus receives 15% of Q -> bleeding can be rapid; principle causes; abruption, placenta praevia, PPH; baby more at risk than mum

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

HELLP Syndrome

HELLP Syndrome: haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and a low platelet count. There is clear overlap between pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome, and it is unclear whether the latter is a primary or secondary disease process.