Decompression Sickness
Decompression sickness, is a form of decompression illness, where a reduction in ambient pressure ('decompression') leads to de no intravascular and extravascular bubble formation with pathological consequences
Category CCC
The LITFL Critical Care Compendium is a comprehensive collection of pages concisely covering the core topics and controversies of critical care.
Medications and Thyroid Function
The effect of medications on thyroid function tests.
Pulse Oximeter
Pulse Oximeter: measurement of arterial oxygen-haemoglobin saturation (SaO2) — denoted SpO2 when measured by pulse oximetry
Pulmonary Embolism
Pulmonary embolism (PTE, PE) ranges from asymptomatic to a life threatening catastrophe. PE occurs when a deep vein thrombosis migrates to the pulmonary arterial tree
Respiratory Literature Summaries
Respiratory Literature Summaries
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is pneumonia occurring in people who had mechanical ventilation within 48 hours of the onset of infection
Amphetamine Toxicity
Sympathomimetic syndrome with potential for life-threatening vascular complications (ischemia, dissection and haemorrhage). Note: ecstasy is also associated with hyponatraemia
Foley Catheter Balloon Tamponade
Use of a Foley catheter (FC, aka urinary catheter) to achieve hemorrhage control in penetrating trauma to the neck
End-Stage Renal Failure
End-stage renal failure has multiple implications for ICU management
Publication Practices Distort Science
Scientific information is an economic commodity, and that scientific journals are a medium for its dissemination and exchange. As such it is subject to economic factors that affect the value of scientific information and how it is exchanged.
Fluid Responsiveness
Fluid responsiveness is an increase of stroke volume of 10-15% after the patient receives 500 ml of crystalloid over 10-15 minutes (as defined by Paul Marik). The definitive test for fluid responsiveness is a Fluid challenge
Nutrition of the Critically Ill Obese Patient
High protein hypocaloric feeding is preferred for critically ill obese patients (supported by SCCM/ ASPEN joint Consensus statement)