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 340

Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI)

Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is an airway management technique that produces inducing immediate unresponsiveness (induction agent) and muscular relaxation (neuromuscular blocking agent) and is the fastest and most effective means of controlling the emergency airway

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Sodium Bicarbonate Use

Sodium Bicarbonate Use. metabolic acidosis leads to adverse cardiovascular effects. bicarbonate must be administered in a solution as sodium bicarbonate

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Respiratory Compensation in Metabolic Disorders

The extent of respiratory compensation for a metabolic disorder is determined by the balance between the abnormality in the pH (hence the drive to change) and how hard it is to get there (eg. work of respiratory muscles in hyperventilation)

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Rapid sequence airway (RSA) and PALM

Rapid sequence airway (RSA) is a modified form of rapid sequence intubation that uses an LMA inserted following induction (+/- administration of neuromuscular blockade) to maximise peri-intubation oxygenation prior to endotracheal tube insertion

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Pretreatment drugs for RSI

Traditionally there are four options for pretreatment for Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI): atropine, lidocaine, fentanyl, and defasciculating dose of a non-depolarising neuromuscular blocker

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Normal Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis

Normal Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis (NAGMA). HCO3 loss and replaced with Cl- -> anion gap normal. if hyponatraemia is present the plasma [Cl-] may be normal despite the presence of a normal anion gap acidosis -> this could be considered a 'relative hyperchloraemia'.

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Preoxygenation

Preoxygenation is the administration of oxygen to a patient prior to intubation to extend 'the safe apnoea time'. The primary mechanism is 'denitrogenation' of the lungs, however maximal preoxygenation is achieved when the alveolar, arterial, tissue, and venous compartments are all filled with oxygen.