Imipenem
carbapenem (imipenem + cilastatin); inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis; cilastatin reduces renal metabolism -> increases effective concentration and decreases nephrotoxicity
Category CCC
The LITFL Critical Care Compendium is a comprehensive collection of pages concisely covering the core topics and controversies of critical care.
Ketamine
Ketamine: phencyclidine derivative hypnotic and analgesic. NMDA receptor antagonist resulting in dissociative anaesthesia (profound analgesia with superficial sleep); interacts with opioid receptors - mu, delta and kappa
Levosimendan vs Dobutamine
COMPARISON EVIDENCE Mebazza, (2007) SURVIVE – Levosimendan vs Dobutamine in patients with acute decompensated heart failure, JAMA References and Links
Levosimendan
Levosimendan: Calcium sensitizer (novel inotrope, also considered an inodilator like milrinone)
Lignocaine
Lignocaine: local anaesthetic and membrane stabilising anti-arrhythmic; binds selectively to refractory Na+ channels -> preferentially when cells are depolarised (ie. in ischaemia)
Linezolid
Linezolid: oxazolidinone; blocks ribosomal function required for translation
Lithium
Lithium: mood stabiliser; element of the alkali metal group; exact mechanism of action in mania is unknown
Low Molecular Weight Heparin
Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH): anticoagulant; potentiates the action of antithrombin III on Xa
Pseudocoma
Pseudocoma is the term used for a patient feigning a comatose state, however it is sometimes also used for conditions like locked-in syndrome where patients may involuntarily appear unconscious but are actually self aware
Pupillary Abnormalities
References and Links
Spinal cord syndromes
Spinal cord syndromes
Transverse Myelitis
Transverse Myelitis: myelitis is a rare inflammatory condition of spinal cord characterised by pyramidal (motor), sensory, and/or autonomic dysfunction to varying degrees. The term “transverse” originally referred to the clinical finding of a band-like horizontal area of altered sensation usually at the dermatomal level of the lesion within the cord, more recently it is used simply describes the position of the inflammation, that is, across the width of the spinal cord