Optic disc abnormality DDx
Differential diagnosis of the most important optic disc abnormalities: papilloedema, papillitis and optic atrophy
Red eye DDx
Red eye is a catch all term for the inflamed or injected external appearance of the eye, for which there are many causes.
Atelectasis DDx
Atelectasis is the fancy name for collapse affecting all or part of the lung. Causes include; intraluminal, mural and extramural
Bronchial breath sounds
Bronchial breath sounds are characterised by expiration and inspiration producing noise of equal loudness and duration, sounding like blowing through a hollow tube. The expiratory sound is heard during the greater part of expiration, whereas the inspiratory sound stops abruptly at the height of inspiration, with a pause before the sound of expiration is heard.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis = autoimmune disorder characterised by a bilateral, peripheral symmetrical inflammatory arthritis with a number of other systemic associations. Multisystem disease which can range from mild -> severe
Septic cardiomyopathy
Reviewed and revised 11 November 2016 OVERVIEW Septic cardiomyopathy is a common feature of severe sepsis syndromes and results in impaired intrinsic cardiac contractility First described by Parker et al in 1984 Incidence varies in studies, most report 20-60% incidence…
Immunomodulatory Agents in Sepsis
Immunomodulatory Agents in Sepsis: huge research area; no definitive therapies available; some research very controversial
Catecholamine excess, Beta Blockade and Critical Illness
Catecholamine excess, or 'sympathetic overload', may be harmful in critically ill patients, including those with septic shock. Catacholamine excess is associated with specific conditions such as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
PAC Literature Summaries
Pulmonary Artery Catheter (PAC) Literature Summaries
Pulmonary haemorrhage after PAOP measurement
OVERVIEW a life threatening time-critical emergency pulmonary artery rupture caused by inflation of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) balloon during ‘wedging’ (measurement of the pulmonary artery occlusion pressure) some experts advise against measuring PAWP because of the risk of pulmonary…
Troubleshooting PAC measurement
Troubleshooting Pulmonary Artery Catheter measurement
Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure
PAOP or PAWP is pressure within the pulmonary arterial system when catheter tip ‘wedged’ in the tapering branch of one of the pulmonary arteries
in most patients this estimates LVEDP thus is an indicator of LVEDV (preload of the left ventricle)