Critical Care Scenarios

We discuss the clinical presentation and management of AFE with guests Dr. Stephanie Martin (Twitter: @OBCriticalCare, Instagram: @criticalcareob), medical director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist in Scottsdale, Arizona with expertise in critical care obstetrics. She is also co-host of the Critical Care Obstetrics podcast. We’re also joined for a … Continue reading "Episode 45: Amniotic fluid embolism with Stephanie Martin"

A look at rehabilitation and mobility in the critically ill, from the perspective of our skilled therapists—with Heidi Engel, PT, DPT of UC San Francisco, long-term provider of acute care therapy, researcher in ICU rehabilitation, and founding member of the SCCM’s ICU Liberation program. Takeaway lessons Tolerance of pressure support ventilation is often a good … Continue reading "Episode 44: Physical therapy with Heidi Engel"

A quick review of tracheoinnominate fistulas: how they happen, what they look like, and most importantly, what you’ll need to do.

Brandon and Bryan reflect on the qualities that define good and bad ICU nurses, the challenges they face, and how APPs and physicians can enable them to be their best.

Why an assumption in your training should be to call for assistance, but expect it will never arrive. Plan to manage problems yourself. Let help surprise you—otherwise hope becomes your plan.

The hows, whys, logistics, and applications of focused, bedside transesophageal echocardiography performed by critical care and EM providers, with Felipe Teran, assistant professor of emergency medicine at Weill Cornell and director of the Resuscitative TEE Project. Takeaway lessons As a rule, resuscitative TEE is performed in patients with a secured airway. TEE views are not … Continue reading "Episode 43: Resuscitative TEE with Felipe Teran"

When do interventions need to be “weaned”? Stop using this word when you don’t mean it! Titrate, target to effect, but only wean when there is a physiologic dependence.

Brandon and Bryan talk about the practicalities of communication, collaboration, and compromise in a surgical ICU, when the surgical and critical care teams are both involved, one is the “primary” team on paper, but everyone needs to be heard.

When should you place a line or perform other procedures using your left (or non-dominant) hand? Brandon reflects on a few situations.

The first episode of Brandon’s intermittent solo rants, in this case discussing toughness, stress tolerance, and flexibility in clinical medicine.