CICM Exam Library 340
CICM SAQ 2010.1 Q26

Outline the relative advantages and disadvantages of thoracic epidural analgesia compared to systemic opioid analgesia via a PCA (Patient Controlled Analgesia) for her pain management.

CCC Critical Care compendium 340
Patient Safety

Patient safety is defined as the “absence of adverse events” and often extended to include the activities involved in preventing adverse events, including adherence to quality standards and access to healthcare services

CCC Critical Care compendium 340
Calcium, Digoxin Toxicity and ‘Stone Heart’ Theory

Administration of intravenous calcium has traditionally been considered a contra-indication for the treatment of hyperkalemia in the presence of digoxin toxicity. This is based on the ‘Stone Heart’ Theory: calcium may lead to an irreversible non-contractile state, due to impaired diastolic relaxation from calcium-troponin C binding