The LITFL Critical Care Compendium is a comprehensive collection of pages concisely covering the core topics and controversies of critical care.
Dipyridamole: anti-platelet + vasodilator. Potentiates the effect of prostacyclin or by inhibiting phosphodiesterase enzyme activity -> increase intracellular cAMP; inhibits cellular uptake of adenosine -> more available to act on coronary vessels -> vasodilation
OVERVIEW RISK FACTORS CAUSES Anaesthetic Surgical INVESTIGATIONS MANAGEMENT Resuscitate Electrolytes and Acid-base Specific Therapy Underlying Cause References and Links
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a syndrome of 'cephalgia, convulsions, confusion, and vision loss' (CCCV) typically in the context of severe hypertension
Dobutamine: synthetic isoprenaline derivative; adrenergic agonist; racemic mixture: -> inotropy with some vasodilation
Dopamine: naturally occurring catecholamine; dopamine and adrenoreceptor agonist; immediate precursor to noradrenaline
Epidural Complications: Catheter related; or drug related
Flumazenil: benzodiazepine antagonist; competitive antagonist that act on the benzodiazepine receptor
Frusemide: loop diuretic, known as furosemide in North America
GI Drug Absorption in Critical Illness; multi-factorial determinants influence the bioavailability of drugs; governed by factors altering transport of substances across cell membranes (diffusion, active transport, ultrafiltration)
Gentamicin; aminoglycoside; irreversible binding to bacterial ribosomal proteins -> inhibits protein synthesis; Antimicrobial cover: gram negative rods (including Pseudomonas)
Hypertonic Saline: concentrated Sodium chloride with elevation of the serum Na+
Heparin: anticoagulant; unfractionated heparin (UFH) is a sulfated polysaccharide with a molecular weight range of 3 to 30 kDa