Search Tag: Abdomen
2018 01 Jun
A brief overview of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the ICU: for the already converted, a reminder of how POCUS has changed ICU practice; for the ultrasound naïve, an aperitif to leave the reader with interest in this evolving paradigm shift of patient care. As intensivists, we have all faced this scenario: a 28-year-old woman, 35...Read more
2016 27 Sep
Managing the abdomen and its complications in the intensive care unit is the subject of our Cover Story. First, Jan de Waele considers the data on new antibiotics for complicated intra-abdominal infections. While these, singly and in combination, show promise, he cautions that recent studies have certain shortcomings from a critical care perspective,...Read more
2016 27 Sep
Recently a number of new antibiotics or combinations for complicated intra-abdominal infections have been introduced. Here we review the currently available data of these new drugs and discuss how they can be used in critically ill patients with complicated intraabdominal infections. Complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI) remain...Read more
2016 27 Sep
The enteral route is commonly accepted as the first choice for providing nutrition to patients in the ICU with stable haemodynamics and a functional gastrointestinal (GI) tract. However, there is wide uncertainty regarding safe enteral nutrition in patients with critical pathology in the abdomen. In the current review we address different abdominal...Read more
2016 27 Sep
Knowledge of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is crucial for successful treatment of critically ill patients, whether medical or surgical, young or old (Kirkpatrick et al. 2013). Today we understand that IAH and ACS are frequent causes of increased morbidity and mortality (De Waele et al. 2016). More importantly,...Read more
2015 23 Jun
Two randomised controlled trials of patient-administered patient relief in the emergency department have found that they are effective in reducing pain. Currently, patients arriving in emergency departments may be administered morphine intravenously by a nurse. Whilst this is safe and works, it takes up nursing time. Two randomised controlled trials...Read more