Critical Care Scenarios

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.

An overview of the role and contributions of a clinical pharmacist in the ICU, with Laura Means Ebbitt of the University of Kentucky, a clinical pharmacist specializing in colorectal/ENT surgery and critical care. Takeaway lessons A clinical pharmacist is a “knowledge pharmacist,” dispensing advice rather than medications. They round with the team to review meds … Continue reading "Episode 42: Clinical pharmacists with Laura Means Ebbitt"

Bryan and Brandon look back on the two-year anniversary of the show and reflect on where it’s been, where it’s going, lessons learned, and other deep thoughts.

Part two of our discussion with fan favorite Matt Siuba (@msiuba), Cleveland Clinic intensivist, on complications in critical care and how to prevent and manage them. Today we focus on respiratory failure after extubation, and unintentional self-extubation. Takeaway lessons When considering extubation of borderline patients, extubating to high flow nasal cannula or CPAP/BiPAP is often a good … Continue reading "Episode 41: Preventing and managing complications (part 2) with Matt Siuba"

Bryan and Brandon talk about the physical exam: how we apply it in the ICU, its utility and changing role in the setting of modern diagnostic modalities, and its best and most practical use-cases. References McNamara LC, Kanjee Z. Counterpoint: Routine Daily Physical Exams Add Value for the Hospitalist and Patient. J Hosp Med. 2021 … Continue reading "Lightning rounds #10: Physical examination in the ICU"

Dr. André Mansoor (@AndreMansoor), associate professor of medicine in Portland, Oregon, author of the excellent Frameworks for Internal Medicine, and contributor to Physical Diagnosis PDX, talks us through a complex case of encephalopathy and respiratory failure to illustrate some principles of diagnostic reasoning. Takeaway lessons The hardest part of treating most diseases is making the … Continue reading "Episode 40: Making the diagnosis with André Mansoor"

Bryan and Brandon chat about notes: what makes a good one, their many and conflicting purposes, some structures and approaches, system- versus problem-based charting, and more.

An overview of VV ECMO with a focus on COVID-19, with Dr. Kimberly A. Boswell (EM and CCM) of the University of Maryland, perhaps the busiest center in the country for COVID-related ECMO. We discuss evaluating for candidacy, induction, maintenance, weaning, and general approaches to the COVID patient. Takeaway lessons The limited amount of ECMO … Continue reading "Episode 39: ECMO for COVID-19 with Kim Boswell"