S upplemental oxygen is an essential component of intensive care and is a commonly used therapy worldwide. The primary goal of oxygen therapy is to prevent hypoxaemia. Since oxygen is usually widely available (except in special circumstances such as during the COVID-19 pandemic) and is relatively inexpensive, it is frequently used in patients with...
READ MOREAn overview of current recommendations for oxygen administration in different patient populations and a discussion on optimal oxygen target values. O xygen is the most commonly used substance in hospitals today. After its discovery around 1771 by the German-Swedish pharmacist Carl Wilhelm Scheele and the English chemist Joseph Priestley, oxygen...
READ MOREApnoeic oxygenation can be used in critically ill patients, without replacing preoxygenation. Introduction Hypoxaemia is one of the most common complications during tracheal intubation of critically ill patients (Jaber et al. 2006; Russotto et al. 2021) with an incidence of severe hypoxaemia reaching up to 50% (De Jong et al. 2013; Jaber et...
READ MOREA third anniversary update on the findings of the INTUBE study, a large international prospective observational study aiming at collecting data on peri-intubation adverse events in critically ill patients . Introduction Tracheal intubation in critically ill patients is among the most commonly performed and high-risk procedures (Russotto...
READ MOREThe clinical applications of pulse oximetry go far beyond the mere monitoring of SpO 2 . From home to ICUs, pulse oximeters may help to improve quality of care in patients with respiratory and circulatory disorders, in particular those with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). P ulse oximetry was developed in the 1970’s to monitor...
READ MORECOVID-19 represents a challenge in respiratory therapy. Evidence-guided protective mechanical ventilation is essential to reduce mortality. “Only a set of well-directed strategies can combat a formidable enemy.” Introduction The SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic has a wide variety of clinical presentations. Age...
READ MORETracheal intubation in critically ill patients requires planning, preparation and optimisation of patient’s physiology prior to the procedure. Reducing repeated attempts at tracheal intubation, improving peri-intubation oxygenation, and haemodynamic optimisation, are some of the steps that can reduce the antecedent morbidity and mortality. ...
READ MOREAn overview of hyperoxia, effect of reactive oxygen species on biological processes and tissues and effective strategies for oxygen therapy. The reliance of life on oxygen is a modern and terra-centric view. Oxygen only appeared on the scene about 450 million years ago – wiping out many life forms or forcing them to trap oxygen with...
READ MOREThis article summarises the proceedings of an ESICM webinar in which two experts discuss vasopressor therapy and its fundamental role in the treatment of septic shock-induced hypotension. They provide an overview of severe septic shock, the benefits of second-line vasopressors and their use in COVID-19 patients. Vasopressors in Severe Septic...
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