Critical Matters

Dr. Cherylee Chang, a neurointensivist and Professor of Neurology at Duke University, dives into the complexities of acute disorders of consciousness. She highlights the significance of a systematic approach to diagnosis and the importance of objective scoring systems like GCS and NIHSS. Dr. Chang discusses the nuances of neurological examinations and shares insights on imaging strategies, including the use of EEG in critical cases. Her advice on challenging traditional practices reinforces a commitment to evidence-based medicine and improving patient care.

In this episode, we will discuss prone position ventilation in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Despite clinical trials demonstrating a benefit on mortality, the adoption of prone position ventilation has been challenging. We will discuss the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the use of prone position ventilation and lessons learned that can help increase the proper use of this treatment modality moving forward. Our guest is Dr. Chad Hochberg, a member of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, at John Hopkins University Medical School in Baltimore, Maryland. Additional Resources Factors Influencing the Implementation of Prone Positioning during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Hochberg C, et al. Ann Am Thorac Soc, 2023; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35947776/ Declining Use of Prone Positioning After High Initial Uptake in COVID-19 Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Hochberg C, et al. Crit Care Med 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37294144/ ESICM Guidelines on ARDS 2023. Intensive Care Medicine 2023: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00134-023-07050-7 ATS/ESICM/SCCM Clinical Practice Guideline: Mechanical Ventilation in Adult Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.201703-0548S Prone Position for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Munshi L, et al. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2017: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29068269/ Prone Positioning in Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Guerin C. Et al. PROSEVA Trial. New Eng J Med 2013: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1214103 Books Mentioned in this Episodes The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, By Michael Pollan: https://bit.ly/42FpndS

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Catherine Albin, a neurointensivist at Emory University, dives into the complexities of CNS infections like meningitis and encephalitis. She highlights the need for ICU clinicians to be vigilant due to the high morbidity associated with these conditions. Albin discusses risk factors, diagnostic strategies, and effective treatment protocols, emphasizing the importance of early intervention with antibiotics and acyclovir. Additionally, she elaborates on post-ICU recovery and the nuanced decision-making around lumbar punctures and neuroimaging.

There is increased recognition of the right ventricle's pivotal role in health and disease. In this episode, we will discuss Right Ventricular Failure in the context of critical illness. Our guest is Dr. Ryan Tedford, a practicing cardiologist focusing on heart failure. Dr. Tedford is the Dr. Peter C. Gaze Endowed Chair in Heart Failure. He is a Professor of Medicine and Cardiology, Section Chief for Heart Failure, Medical Director of Cardiac Transplantation, and Director of the Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Fellowship Training Program at the Medical University of South Carolina. Additional Resources Right Ventricular Failure. Houston B, Britain EL, and Tedford R. N Engl J of Med 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36947468/ Diuretic versus placebo in intermediate-risk acute pulmonary embolism: a randomized clinical trial. Lim P, et al. Eur Heart J Acute Cardiovasc Care 2022: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34632490/ Multimodality Imaging of Right Heart Function. Hahn R, et al. JACC 2023: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37164529/ Ventricular dilation is associated with improved cardiovascular performance and survival in sepsis. Zanotti, s et al. CHEST 2010: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20651022/ Link to recent podcast on Acute Pulmonary Embolism: https://soundphysicians.com/podcast-episode/?podcast_id=342&track_id=1463000353 Books Mentioned in this Episode: The Right Ventricle in Health and Disease. N Voelkel and D Schranz, Editors: https://bit.ly/436iROd The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race. By W Isaacson: https://bit.ly/3IDUL5a

May is National Critical Care Awareness and Recognition Month, a time to celebrate our ICU teams and honor our patients. In this episode of the podcast, we will focus on the forgotten patient – the loved ones and families of critically ill patients. We will explore the topic through the lens of a cardiac arrest co-survivor. Our guest is Kristin Flanary, a cognitive neuroscientist and social psychologist. Kristin is a co-survivor of cancer(twice) and a co-survivor of sudden cardiac arrest. She is also known for her social media alter ego – Lady Glaucomflecken. In 2022 Kristin co-founded Glaucomflecken LLC, where she works to advocate for caregivers and co-survivors of medical trauma and critical illness, community CPR and AED use, and sudden cardiac arrest survivorship. She has written about her experience as a co-survivor in medical journals and has received an EMS Cardiac Arrest Save Challenge Coin, the Citizen CPR Foundation’s '40 Under 40' award, and the American Heart Association’s Resuscitation Champion award. Additional Resources: The Quiet Place. K. Flanary. Journal of Cardiac Failure, 2021: https://www.onlinejcf.com/article/S1071-9164(21)00403-6/fulltext Roger. K Flanary. CHEST. 2022: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(22)04029-6/fulltext Life after Cardiac Arrest: The importance of engaging with the “forgotten patient.” K Haywood & K Dainty. Resuscitation, 2018: https://www.resuscitationjournal.com/article/S0300-9572(18)30195-3/pdf Link to the Glaucomflecken’s website: https://glaucomflecken.com/ Books Mentioned in this Episode: In Shock. By Rana Awdish: https://bit.ly/441b0Cx

Transitions of care during a patient’s hospitalization are points of vulnerability with a high potential for harm. In this episode, we will discuss transitions of care from the ICU to the wards. We will explore the ICU-PAUSE framework and how it can be implemented to improve this critical process of care delivery in the ICU. Our guest is Dr. Lekshmi Santhosh, a practicing pulmonary critical care physician at UCSF Health. She is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Divisions of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine & Hospital Medicine at the University of California San Francisco. Dr. Santosh is one of the creators and leaders of the ICU-PAUSE initiative. Additional Resources American Thoracic Society (ATS) ICU-PAUSE initiative. https://www.thoracic.org/professionals/education/ats-icu-pause-initiative.php Creating the ICU-PAUSE Tool for Intensive Care Unit-Ward Transitions. L Santosh et al. ATS Scholar 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9341494/ Characterizing ICU-ward handoffs at three academic medical centres: process and perceptions. L Santosh, et al. BMJQS 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30636201/ Implementation of the I-PASS handoff program in diverse clinical environments: A multicenter prospective effectiveness implementation study. A Starmer, et al. J Hosp Med 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36326255/ Books Mentioned in this Episode In Shock. By Rana Awdish: bit.ly/441b0Cx Every Deep Drawn Breath. By Wes Ely: bit.ly/3Aqt4IC Mom Milestones. By Grace Farris: bit.ly/3ArT06z Dare to Lead. By Brene Brown: bit.ly/3n3N54O Quiet. By Susan Cain: bit.ly/3HcuHxk The Credibility Code (Speech Skills). By Cara Hale Alter: bit.ly/40ErQE8

Despite all the advances developed in critical illness, survivors of the ICU have a long journey to healing and recovery. In this episode of the podcast, we will discuss outcomes after critical illness. Our guest is Dr. Margaret Herridge, Professor of Medicine, Senior Scientist in Critical Care and Respiratory Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Herridge is also Director of Critical Care Research. Director of the RECOVER Program, and Clinical Director of the Grace RECOVER Program for Chronic Critical Illness, in the University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. Additional Resources: Outcomes after Critical Illness. M. Herridge and E. Azoulay: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36884324/ Neuropsychological sequelae and impaired health status in survivors of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Hopkins RO, et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10390379/ One-year outcomes in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Herridge m, et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12594312/ Long-term cognitive impairment after critical illness. Pandharipande PP, et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24088092/ The RECOVER Program: disability risk groups and 1-year outcome after 7 or more days of mechanical ventilation. Herridge M, et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26974173/ Determinants of long-term outcome in ICU survivors: results from the FROG-ICU study. Gayat E, et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29347987/ Symptoms of anxiety and depression in family members of intensive care unit patients. Pochard F, et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11588447/ Books Mentioned in this Episode: Bel Canto. By Ann Patchett: bit.ly/3nWs7Vp Commonwealth. By Ann Patchett: bit.ly/43pWSCt

In this episode, we will discuss Mechanical Power and ventilator induced lung injury (VILI). Our guest is Dr. Jason Bartock, a practicing intensivist at Cooper Medical System in Camden, New Jersey. Dr. Bartock is faculty and Program Director of the Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey. Additional Resources: Mechanical power: meaning, uses and limitations. L Gattinoni, et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36884050/ Mechanical Power: A New Concept in Mechanical Ventilation Poudel, et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34597688/ Mechanical power at a glance: a simple surrogate for volume-controlled ventilation. L Giosa, et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31773328/ The future of driving pressure: a primary goal for mechanical ventilation? H. Aoyama, et al. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30305906/ Seminal clinical trial comparing low tidal volumes to traditional tidal volumes in ARDS. ARDS Network: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejm200005043421801 Educational website with mechanical ventilation content: https://www.criticalcareatcooper.com/masterin-mechanical-ventilation Books Mentioned in this Episode: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High. By Joseph Grenny, et al: https://bit.ly/3FL4Xr9 Critical Maters Podcast – Interrupting the VILI Vortex. Guest J. Marini, MD: https://soundphysicians.com/podcast-episode/?podcast_id=342&track_id=819824731 Critical Matters Podcast- Initial Management of ARDS. Guest R.P. Dellinger, MD: https://soundphysicians.com/podcast-episode/?podcast_id=342&track_id=635607780

In this episode of the podcast, we will discuss the current management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism. Our guest is Dr. Belinda Rivera-Lebron, a pulmonary critical care physician who practices at the University of Pittsburgh Medical System. She is an Associate Professor of Medicine and is the Director of the UPMC Acute Pulmonary Embolus (PE) Program and the UPMC Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH) Program. Dr. Rivera-Lebron’s areas of interest include pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension. Additional Resources Diagnosis, Treatment and Follow Up of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Consensus Practice from the PERT Consortium.: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31185730/ AHA Scientific Statement. Surgical Management and Mechanical Circulatory Support in High-Risk Pulmonary Embolisms: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36688837/ PERT Consortium website: https://pertconsortium.org/ Books Mentioned in this Episode: The Trusted Advisor. By David H. Meister, et al: bit.ly/3mq9Oap

In this episode of the podcast, we will discuss Fluid Management for Sepsis through the lens of the recently published CLOVERS clinical trial. Our guest is Dr. Nathan Shapiro, Professor of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and an attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Shapiro is the Vice Chairman of Research for the Emergency Department. Dr. Shapiro is a lead author and investigator for the recently published CLOVERS clinical trial. Additional Resources Early Restrictive or Liberal Fluid Management for Sepsis-Induced Hypotension. CLOVERS clinical trial: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2212663 Restriction of Intravenous Fluids in ICU Patients with Septic Shock. CLASSIC clinical trial: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2202707 Surviving Sepsis Campaign: Guidelines 2021: https://www.sccm.org/Surviving-Sepsis-Guidelines-2021 Early Goal-Directed Therapy in the Treatment of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa010307 Early, Goal-Directed Therapy for Septic Shock: Metanalysis of the ARISE, ProCESS, and PriMISe clinical trials: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/nejmoa1701380 Books Mentioned in this Episode: Extreme Ownership: How Navy SEALs Lead and Win. By Jocko Willink and Leif Babin: https://bit.ly/3Ktadmk