2017 Apr - High-frequency oscillatory ventilation: still a role?

Ng, Jensen; Ferguson, Niall D.; Current Opinion in Critical Care . 23(2):175-179, April 2017.

Purpose of review: In light of emerging data from clinical trials, the place of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is uncertain. This review provides an overview of these new clinical data and also explores new areas of investigation for HFOV in adults.

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2017 Apr - New insights into the gut as the driver of critical illness and organ failure

Meng, Mei; Klingensmith, Nathan J.; Coopersmith, Craig M.; Current Opinion in Critical Care . 23(2):143-148, April 2017.

Purpose of review: The gut has long been hypothesized to be the ‘motor’ of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. This review serves as an update on new data elucidating the role of the gut as the propagator of organ failure in critical illness.

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2017 Apr - Central nervous system infections in immunocompromised patients

Sonneville, Romain; Magalhaes, Eric; Meyfroidt, Geert; Current Opinion in Critical Care . 23(2):128-133, April 2017.

Purpose of review: Although rare, central nervous system (CNS) infections are increasingly being recognized in immunocompromised patients. The goal of the present review is to provide a practical diagnostic approach for the intensivist, and to briefly discuss some of the most prevalent conditions.

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2017 Apr - Is there still a role for hypothermia in neurocritical care?

Frank, Florian; Broessner, Gregor; Current Opinion in Critical Care . 23(2):115-121, April 2017.

Purpose of review: Therapeutic hypothermia (i.e. induced body core temperature ≈ 33–35°C) in neurological patients with cerebrovascular disease and traumatic brain injury is a controversially discussed issue in the literature. In this review, we have included the most recently published research covering the use of therapeutic hypothermia and targeted temperature management in neurologic diseases and translated the results into a clinical decision support for the professional healthcare community.

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2017 Apr - Postinterventional critical care management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Datar, Sudhir; Rabinstein, Alejandro A.; Current Opinion in Critical Care . 23(2):87-93, April 2017.

Purpose of review: Subarachnoid hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm (aSAH) is a complex disorder with the potential to have devastating effects on the brain as well as other organ systems. After more than 3 decades of research, the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms remain incompletely understood and important questions remain regarding the evaluation and management of these patients. The purpose of this review is to analyze the recent literature and improve our understanding of certain key clinical aspects.

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2017 Apr - Intracranial pressure management in patients with traumatic brain injury: an update

Stocchetti, Nino; Zoerle, Tommaso; Carbonara, Marco; Current Opinion in Critical Care . 23(2):110-114, April 2017.

Purpose of review: Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring and treatment is central in the management of traumatic brain injury. Despite 4 decades of clinical use, several aspects remain controversial, including the indications for ICP and treatment options.

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2017 Apr - Blood pressure control for acute severe ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke

Bösel, Julian; Current Opinion in Critical Care . 23(2):81-86, April 2017.

Purpose of review: Severe ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke is a devastating cerebrovascular disease often demanding critical care. Optimal management of blood pressure (BP) in the acute phase is controversial. The purpose of this review is to display insights from recent studies on BP control in both conditions.

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2016 Dec - Renal protection in the 21st century

Meersch M, Zarbock A.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Dec;22(6):554-559.

Purpose of review: Among critically ill patients, acute kidney injury (AKI) is still a common and serious complication with a tremendous impact on short-term and long-term outcomes. The objective of this review is to discuss strategies for renal protection and prevention of AKI in ICU patients.

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2016 Aug - Postoperative bleeding and coagulation disorders

Samama CM.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Aug;22(4):365-9.

Purpose of review: New data have been made available in the field of haemostasis and thrombosis. Some long-awaited answers to important questions have been published, and some debates have benefited from an updated perspective.

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2016 Aug - Postoperative hemodynamic instability and monitoring

Minokadeh A, Pinsky MR.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Aug;22(4):393-400.

Purpose of review: The purpose of the review is to identify the recently validated minimally invasive or noninvasive monitoring devices used to both monitor and guide resuscitation in the critically ill patients.

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2016 Aug - Intravenous lipid emulsions in the critically ill: an update

Manzanares W, Langlois PL, Hardy G.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Aug;22(4):308-15.

Purpose of review: Purpose of the review is to summarize recent research addressing the role of intravenous lipid emulsions (IVLEs) in the critically ill.

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2016 Aug - Role of the microbiome, probiotics, and ‘dysbiosis therapy’ in critical illness

Wischmeyer PE, McDonald D, Knight R.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Aug;22(4):347-53.

Purpose of review: Loss of ‘health-promoting’ microbes and overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria (dysbiosis) in ICU is believed to contribute to nosocomial infections, sepsis, and organ failure (multiple organ dysfunction syndrome). This review discusses new understanding of ICU dysbiosis, new data for probiotics and fecal transplantation in ICU, and new data characterizing the ICU microbiome.

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2016 Aug - Update on perioperative acute kidney injury

Goren O, Matot I.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Aug;22(4):370-8.

Purpose of review: In this review, we discuss the latest updates on perioperative acute kidney injury (AKI) and the specific considerations that are relevant to different surgeries and patient populations.

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2016 Aug - Bedside nutrition evaluation and physical assessment techniques in critical illness

Simpson F, Doig GS.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Aug;22(4):303-7.

Purpose of review: The purpose of this review is to highlight emerging techniques used to determine body composition early in ICU stay, their prediction of poor outcome, and what is required before they can be more widely used.

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2016 Aug - Protein delivery in critical illness

Weijs PJ.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Aug;22(4):299-302.

Purpose of review: Protein delivery in the critically ill still is a highly debated issue. Here, we discuss only the most recent updates in the literature concerning protein nutrition of the critically ill.

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2016 Aug - Are we creating survivors…or victims in critical care? Delivering targeted nutrition to improve outcomes

Wischmeyer PE.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Aug;22(4):279-84.

Over the last 10 years, we are proud of the fact we have finally begun to reduce in-hospital mortality following severe sepsis in some countries worldwide. Further, mortality from acute lung injury has fallen dramatically, as the control group mortality in a recent large Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Research Network (ARDSnet) trial was strikingly only 16%.  But the fundamental question that must be asked is ‘are we winning many battles in our ICUs, but ultimately losing the war?’ ..

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2016 Aug - Parenteral or enteral nutrition: do you have the choice?

Oshima T, Singer P, Pichard C.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Aug;22(4):292-8.

Purpose of review: The review focuses on the use of parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition in critically ill patients to optimize the nutrition care throughout the ICU stay. The key message is: you have the choice!

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2016 Jun - Monitoring during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Douflé G, Ferguson ND.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Jun;22(3):230-8.

Purpose of review: An increasing number of patients are placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for respiratory or cardiac failure. Sound understanding of physiology and configuration of ECMO is essential for proper management. This review covers different monitoring parameters and tools for patients supported with different types of ECMO.

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2016 Jun - Current status of tissue monitoring in the management of shock

Lima A.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Jun;22(3):274-8

Purpose of review: Tissue monitoring is one of the main strategies at the bedside to guide resuscitation of shock. Advances in tissue monitoring technologies have established noninvasive optical methods and transcutaneous oximetry as modalities of considerable value in the critical care setting for tissue monitoring in shock. The purpose of this article is to highlight the latest developments into the clinical applications of near-infrared spectroscopy, direct visualization of sublingual microcirculation, and transcutaneous oxygen measurements (PtcO2).

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2016 Jun - Near-infrared spectroscopy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and after restoration of spontaneous circulation: a valid technology?

Wik L.; Curr Opin Crit Care. 2016 Jun;22(3):191-8.

Purpose of review: This article explores the status of using near-infrared spectroscopy and reporting cerebral oximetry (rSO2) for cardiac arrest patients.

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