Critical Matters

One in five US residents receives ICU care at the end of life. In this episode of Critical Matters, we discuss different aspects of end of life care in the ICU. Our guest is Dr. BJ Miller, a palliative care physician at the University of California, San Francisco and former Executive Director of Zen Hospice Project. He is a powerful advocate for the role of our senses, community, and presence in delivering palliative care and for ushering in a new perspective on living with death. Additional Resources: What really matters at the end of life, BJ Miller presented at TED 2015: https://bit.ly/1PlAuNP Clinician-Family Communication About Patients' Values and Preferences in Intensive Care Units. Scheunemann LP et al, JAMA Internal Medicine, 2019: https://bit.ly/2LEH0Y5 A Beginner's Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death. BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger: https://amzn.to/30VVWEV Vital Talk courses, a set of online and in person courses designed to equip clinicians with the tools to have difficult conversations with patients and families:https://bit.ly/30SPrm6 Books Mentioned in this Episode: Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl: https://amzn.to/2JPJjFQ Mortally Wounded: Stories of Soul Pain, Death and Healing by Michael Kearney: https://amzn.to/2YkDPuF Bering Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande: https://amzn.to/2GsTXjH The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker: https://amzn.to/2SyY7LI

In this episode of Critical Matters, we discuss lessons learned from the clinical use of Angiotensin II (GIAPREZA™), which was approved for use in patients with vasodilatory shock a little over a year ago. Our guest is Dr. Lakhmir S. Chawla, Chief Medical Officer of La Jolla Pharmaceutical in San Diego, California. Dr. Chawla was the designer and lead investigator of the ATHOS (Angiotensin II for the Treatment of High Output Shock) trial which results led to the ATHOS 3 trial, (The Phase 3 clinical trial of angiotensin II, for the treatment of catecholamine-resistant hypotension). ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: ATHOS-3 Clinical Trial. Randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of Angiotensin II in raising blood pressure in vasodilatory shock: https://bit.ly/2r5SpG0 Outcomes in Patients with Vasodilatory Shock and Renal Replacement Therapy Treated with Intravenous Angiotensin II: https://bit.ly/2JttWTj Sensitivity to angiotensin II dose in patients with vasodilatory shock: a prespecified analysis of the ATHOS-3 trial: https://bit.ly/2xDVVsr ALBUMS AND BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd: https://amzn.to/2XZr34x Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd: https://amzn.to/2Lc2lbb Loonshots: How to Nurture the Crazy Ideas That Win Wars, Cure Diseases, and Transform Industries, Safi Bachall: https://amzn.to/2S4IrPU

Dr. M. Kamran Athar, a neurointensivist at the Farber Institute for Neuroscience, dives deep into acute neuromuscular disorders like Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenia gravis. He discusses differential diagnostics and explains when to admit patients to the ICU based on respiratory and autonomic concerns. Unique insights include predicting respiratory failure in GBS and the role of immunotherapies versus corticosteroids. Athar also highlights the importance of patient dignity and effective decision-making in critical care.

In this episode, we discuss compassion in the ICU with Dr. Stephen Trzeciak. Dr. Trzeciak is Chief of Medicine at Cooper University Health Care, and Professor and Chair of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. He is the co-author of a recently published book “Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference. In addition, Dr. Trzeciak and his research group have published several original research papers focusing on compassion in healthcare. Additional Resources: Healthcare provider compassion is associated with lower PTSD symptoms among patients with life-threatening medical emergencies: a prospective cohort study: http://bit.ly/2Wio1re Development and Validation of a Tool to Measure Patient Assessment of Clinical Compassion: http://bit.ly/2JR1ifr For patients, caregiver compassion is essential. The Washington Post: https://wapo.st/30yYtW1 Books and Albums Mentioned in This Episode: Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference by S. Trzeciak and A. Mazzarelli: https://amzn.to/2JQXv1y The Joshua Tree by U2: https://amzn.to/2JvU4hu The Koln Concert by Keith Jarrett: https://amzn.to/2VVBYMn

In this episode, we discuss Toxicology in the ICU. This is part two of a two-part series. Today’s episode will focus on specific toxic ingestions and their management. Our guest is Dr. Jerrold B. Leikin. Dr. Leikin is the Director of Medical Toxicology at North Shore University Health System-OMEGA, which includes several hospitals in Illinois. In addition, he is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Pritzker School of Medicine (University of Chicago) and Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at Rush Medical College. Additional Links: American Association of Poison Control Centers Website: https://aapcc.org/ A three-part review series published in CHEST on Toxicology in the ICU. Part 1: https://bit.ly/2OhO2k5 Part 2: https://bit.ly/2UuLQY1 Part 3: https://bit.ly/2OiGM7A Albums Mentioned in this Episode: Live at the BBCby The Beatles: https://amzn.to/2vIrX5M

In this episode, we discuss toxicology in the ICU. This is part one of a two-part series. Today’s episode will focus on an overview of toxic ingestions and their general management. Our guest is Dr. Jerrold B. Leikin. Dr. Leikin is the Director of Medical Toxicology at North Shore University Health System-OMEGA, which includes several hospitals in Illinois. In addition, he is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Pritzker School of Medicine (University of Chicago) and Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at Rush Medical College. Additional Links: American Association of Poison Control Centers Website: https://aapcc.org/ A three-part review series published in CHEST on Toxicology in the ICU. Part 1: https://bit.ly/2OhO2k5 Part 2: https://bit.ly/2UuLQY1 Part 3: https://bit.ly/2OiGM7A Books and Albums Mentioned in This Episode: Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong by Terry Teachout: https://amzn.to/2IBYB1w Louis Armstrong: An Extravagant Life by Laurence Bergreen: https://amzn.to/2PnkvWC Complete Hot Five & Hot Seven Recordings 2 by Louis Armstrong: https://amzn.to/2Vjvbep

In this episode, we discuss the long term effects of critical illness on cognitive impairment. Our guest is Dr. James Jackson. Dr. Jackson is the Assistant Director of The ICU Recovery Center at Vanderbilt, a Research Associate Professor, and the lead psychologist for the Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction and Survivorship (CIBS) Center at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Additional Links: The BRAIN-ICU Study, a seminal prospective study that established the prevalence of long term cognitive dysfunction in critical illness survivors: https://bit.ly/2InupDw Cognitive outcomes after critical illness. A recent review article on the topic: https://bit.ly/2NLIuR1 Link to the CIBS Center website, which contains a wealth of resources for intensivists: https://bit.ly/2HfdQ0n Books Mentioned in This Episode: Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis by Howell Raines: https://amzn.to/2OX9Bqp

Dr. Fred Rincon, an Associate Professor of Neurology and expert in neurocritical care, dives deep into the complex subject of brain death determination. He covers the historical context and legal foundations of brain death concepts from the 1960s. Learn about the crucial brainstem exams, the apnea test mechanics, and the role of drug considerations. Fred also emphasizes effective communication with families and the need for compassion in critical care, sharing insights on navigating the emotional complexities of these discussions.

n this episode of Critical Matters, we provide a quick recap on five things we learned after attending the annual Society of Critical Care Medicine Critical Care Congress. Four recent clinical studies released ahead of print during the congress are briefly discussed in addition to some thoughts on ECMO. Additional Resources: Bag-Mask Ventilation during Tracheal Intubation of Critically Ill Adults: https://bit.ly/2GRFbEH Effect of Titrating Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) with Esophageal Pressure-Guided Strategy vs. an Empirical High PEEP-FiO2 Strategy on Death and Days Free From Mechanical Ventilation Among Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: https://bit.ly/2T38pqV Effect of a Resuscitation Strategy Targeting Peripheral Perfusion Status vs Serum Lactate Levels on 28-Day Mortality Among Patients With Septic Shock: https://bit.ly/2UcyoJ3 Adjunctive Intermittent Pneumatic Compression for Venous Thromboprophylaxis: https://bit.ly/2Xx4O35 Books Mentioned in This Episode: The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness. Epictetus by Sharon Lebell: https://amzn.to/2ECiYIp

In this episode of Critical Matters, we discuss what happens to patients who survive the ICU. Our guest is Dr. Carla Sevin, Director for The ICU Recovery Center at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine. Dr. Sevin discusses current concepts regarding the post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and shares her views on how we can prevent, identify, and treat it. Additional Resources: Link to Society of Critical Care Medicine webpage containing a host of resources related to the Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS): https://bit.ly/2S34Xam Link to Understanding Your ICU Stay: Information for Patients and Families booklet: https://bit.ly/2SN6S7u Link to the CIBS Center website, which contains a wealth of resources for intensivists on the topic of ICU liberation and survivorship: https://bit.ly/2HfdQ0n Link to review article, Treatment of the Post-ICU Patient in an Outpatient Setting: https://bit.ly/2UUXkVg Books Mentioned in This Episode: In Shock: My Journey from Death to Recovery and Redemptive Power of Hope by Rana Awdish, MD: https://amzn.to/2SOLwX6 A View from the Edge — Creating a Culture of Caring by Rana Awdish, MD: https://bit.ly/2E6t1FF