The LITFL Critical Care Compendium is a comprehensive collection of pages concisely covering the core topics and controversies of critical care.
definitions of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have varied over time. ARDS was first described by Ashbaugh and Petty in 1967 in a case series of 12 ICU patients who shared the common features of unusually persistent tachypnea and hypoxemia accompanied by opacification on chest radiographs and poor lung compliance, despite different underlying causes
The open lung approach (OLA) to ventilation involves increasing the level of Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) in combination with protective lung ventilation
Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) is inverse ratio, pressure controlled, intermittent mandatory ventilation with unrestricted spontaneous breathing
based on the Open Lung Approach To Ventilation first described by Stock et al 1987
OVERVIEW Pressure versus Time Graph. Information obtained COMMON ABNORMALITIES Normal High Raw High Flow Inadequate inspiratory flow Decreased Lung Compliance Auto PEEP Dynamic Hyperinflation Cardiac oscillations Circuit leaks References and Links
Ventilation, summaries of key papers from the ventilation literature: NIV; ARDS; Tracheostomy; Weaning
Chorea refers to grouped small jerky involuntary random continuous movements, that often blend into (or disguised by) a voluntary movement. Chorea implies a lesion affecting corpus striatum
Overview Dystonia is a movements disorder characterized by abnormal postures or twisting or repetitive movement caused by sustained contractions of opposing muscles Causes Focal Segmental Generalised
Horner syndrome is associated with an interruption to the sympathetic nerve supply of the eye. It is characterized by the classic triad of miosis, partial ptosis, and anhidrosis +/- enophthalmos
Meningism is resistance to neck flexion due to painful spasm of extensor muscles resulting from meningeal irritation
Movement disorders can be classified as hypokinesias and hyperkinesias.
Acute abdomen is abdominal pain in the presence of tenderness and rigidity and is a surgical emergency. Abdominal pain can be considered in terms of surgical, Ob/Gyn and medical causes.
Sore throat can be more than a viral pharyngitis! Differential diagnosis