Category CCC

The LITFL Critical Care Compendium is a comprehensive collection of pages concisely covering the core topics and controversies of critical care.

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.

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!

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Pneumonia in Heart-Lung Transplant

pulmonary infections = most frequent complication with high mortality; requires aggressive, early, broad spectrum antimicrobial therapy; close consultation and even transport to transplant unit may be indicated

CCC Critical Care Compendium 680

Ataxia DDx

Ataxia is impaired coordination in the absence of weakness. Acute ataxia is a neurological emergency, and vascular lesions of the cerebellum (infarction, hemorrhage) must be considered/ excluded.