The LITFL Critical Care Compendium is a comprehensive collection of pages concisely covering the core topics and controversies of critical care.
Reviewed and revised 27 October 2016 OVERVIEW Definition Shortened lifespan can be due to RBC destruction from: The approach to haemolytic anaemia involves: In the critically ill, always consider: PATHOGENESIS Haemolysis can occur intravascularly or extravascularly, or both Immune-mediated Non-immune…
almost all haematological malignancies are curable with modern treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and bone marrow transplantation
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired syndrome characterized by the intravascular activation of coagulation with loss of localization arising from different causes
antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is diagnosed by the occurrence of thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity in combination with detectable antibodies
Apheresis, Plasmapheresis and Plasma Exchange
new terms that are in vogue are trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) and acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC) - not simply a 'dilutional coagulopathy' or 'consumptive coagulopathy'!
Problems after Bariatric Surgery
Psoas abscess is a suppurative collection in the psoas muscle; it is commonly missed or diagnosed late, with potential for severe morbidity
Mesenteric ischaemia = inadequate blood flow through mesenteric circulation -> ischaemia -> gangrene
Ileus = absence of bowel motility; (1) dynamic ileus (2) spastic ileus (rare: porphyria or lead poisoning) (3) ischaemic ileus
Cyanosis is a bluish hue that occurs in the presence of ~60 g/L deoxyhaemoglobin or dyshemoglobinaemia; the differentials include treatment with methylene blue and new clothes that leach blue ink...