The importance of specialized care for brain injury patients is becoming increasingly clear. A recent study looked at the outcomes of patients with severe brain injuries. These patients had conditions like strokes, bleeding in the brain, or injuries from trauma. The study compared patients treated in dedicated neuroscience intensive care units (NSUs) with thos...
The COVID-19 pandemic has put intensive care units (ICUs) under immense pressure. This pressure has made ICUs more open to threats from superbugs. These are bacteria that are resistant to multiple drugs. One such superbug is carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. This bacteria is particularly tough to treat. It can cause serious infections. It is a major conce...
Many people who survive a critical illness face a tough road ahead. After leaving the hospital, they might deal with new health problems or worsening old ones. These issues can be physical, mental, or even affect their thinking. Doctors call this post-intensive care syndrome, or PICS for short. It is a real challenge for many patients. Spiritual care has shown promi...
The idea of spirituality has gained traction worldwide. But how does it fit into healthcare, especially in high-stress places like intensive care units? This is a question that needs more attention. The role of spirituality in healthcare is often overlooked. This is especially true in critical care settings. People in intensive care units are often dealing with li...
Burns are serious injuries that affect many people every year. One big problem with severe burns is how they mess with the body's temperature. Usually, doctors try to keep the body warm, aiming for a range between 37. 5 and 39. 5°C. They also watch the difference between the core body temperature and the temperature at the extremities, like hands and feet. This diffe...
In the world of intensive care, not every patient walks out alive. About 16% of patients in ICUs do not survive the treatment. For those on mechanical ventilation or dialysis, the outlook is even grimmer, with only half living beyond six months. Predicting who will pull through is far from an exact science. Time-limited trials, or TLTs, are a tool that can help stee...
Preterm infants born before 32 weeks face a challenging journey to reach full enteral feeding. This journey varies greatly depending on several factors. For instance, babies born weighing less than 1, 500 grams had a tougher time reaching full feeding. These babies were split into two groups: those with extremely low birth weight (ELBW) and those with very low birt...
The first week of life is crucial for premature babies. These infants, born before 32 weeks, face serious risks. In a recent study, over 8, 900 such babies were tracked. Almost 10% of them either died or suffered severe brain bleeds within their first week. The study looked at many factors. It found that the younger the baby, the higher the risk. Babies born smaller...
Let's talk about something crucial in intensive care units (ICUs): ventilator power. This power, or MP, is a key measurement that combines various factors of the respiratory system while a patient is on a ventilator. It's like a snapshot of how well the lungs and breathing muscles are working together. When this power is high, it can be a red flag. It might mean that...
Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are filled with tiny fighters, but they face a big threat: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This resistance makes treating infections tough, especially for babies born with low birth weight or critical health issues. AMR is a silent enemy, and it's making healthcare professionals' jobs even harder. Imagine a hospital like...