• Developing and Harmonising a Prime Speciality: Intensive Care Medicine

    President of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), Andrew Rhodes, has committed much of his time to progressing intensive care medicine as well as introducing and strengthening strategies for raising and harmonising standards in medical practice. In this interview with Managing Editor Marianna Keen, he shares some of his most recent...

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  • Ventilator Associated Pneumonia: Breaking the Bridge

    In this article we look at strategies for preventing lower airway colonisation, focusing on the factor that is widely-believed to be the main culprit forventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) development: the endotracheal tube (ETT).   VAP and its Pathogenesis Ventilator associated pneumonia, defined as occurrence of pneumonia at least 48–72 hours...

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  • Proper Use of Vasopressors in Septic Shock

    Introduction Several factors contribute to organ dysfunction in septic shock patients, and once the inflammatory response has been activated, many organ systems can be adversely affected. A marked fall in systemic vascular resistance results from arterial and venous dilatation. This is accompanied by leakage of plasma into the extravascular space,...

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  • Perioperative Nutrition in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients

    Malnutrition is frequently observed in upper gastrointestinal cancer surgical patients; it is an independent predictor of postoperative morbidity and mortality and leads to both increased length of hospital stay and hospital costs. Consequently, every effort should be made to apply nutritional support, including both standard enteral nutrition (EN)...

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  • Optimal Nutrition in Intensive Care: Does Gender Matter?

    Several gender differences relate to optimal nutrition in intensive care. We describe these differences and their hypothetical implications for the patient.   Introduction Nutrition therapy is an integral and important part of therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU). Malnutrition leads to more complications, more infections, longer hospital stays...

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  • Sex in the ICU: Eliminating Genderbased Disparities in Care

    The time has come to apply a sex and gender lens to quality improvement in ICU care, considering not just biological differences but also potential gender bias from decision makers, among other factors. The authors of this article explore the current context of quality standards and indicators, and assess how access, quality and outcomes across genders...

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  • Elevated Glucose Levels Predict Mortality in Pneumonia Patients

    Non-diabetic patients who have elevated serum glucose levels when they are admitted to the hospital presenting community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) have an increased risk of dying within 90 days compared with normoglycemic patients with the same illness, suggest studies presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) 2012 Annual Congress in Vienna,...

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  • European STEMI Guidelines Emphasise Care Coordination

    The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of patients with acute ST-elevation MI (STEMI) anticipate spurring efforts to improve the speed and efficiency of STEMI care in Europe. The new recommendations, which were announced at the European Society of Cardiology 2012 Congress on 26 August, suggest a new standard for time...

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  • Gender

    Even in a world full of innovation, developments and advanced intensive care medicine, there are areas and issues within the realm of cr itical care that are overlooked, at least on a comprehensive scale. As more studies and research projects are completed, and new experiences and knowledge are shared across the speciality, the quality and standard...

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  • Outcome-Based Education is the Future

    On 20 July, 1958, delegates of the professional organisations representing medical specialists of the six member countries of the very new European Community (EEC) convened in Brussels and created the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), which later came to define the basic principles involved in training the community’s medical experts....

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