Dr. Ricardo Riveros (CA-2) presents a thorough review of Mechanisms of Sepsis-Induced Cardiac Dysfuntion featured in the May 2007 Critical Care Medicine. This was a very difficult review of basic science as well as the mechanistic molecular biology of the cardiac dysfunction that occurs in septic patients with myocardial dysfunction. This article focuses on the intracellular pathways that are disrupted by sepsis hence leading to cell death, apoptosis. Dr. Riveros points out the animal models and patient studies used to study these mechanisms as well as their downfalls. A great resource for basic review of what goes wrong within the cell during sepsis. This is archived in the collection of Journal Club Presentations.
Dr. Martin L. Smith (Dept. of Bioethics CCF) led a thought provoking discussion on the controversial and sometimes very difficul issues dealing with end of life care and decision making abilities in the ICU. Several of the patients in the ICU are unable to make the decisions for themselves and it is up to the physician, family, friend or DPOA to make the decision on behalf of the patient and in the patient’s best interest. This can turn out to be quite a complicated path because as Dr. Smith reveas in his presentation, sometimes no one can clearly tell what the patient would have wanted if he/she were in their current position. Issues of family wishes, moral, legal and religious obligations can quickly bring us into merky water. Enjoy the presentation and please feel free to comment below.
Just bare with me over the next few weeks and we will have this website loaded with useful information and resources. Meanwhile, please subscribe to the website using the link to the right. This way you will instantly stay up to date with any new changes that are made.
Remember, this site is contantly changing on the basis of new information, resource, news and most of all YOUR input. So please feel free to add comments to any of the topics you see by clicking on the “add a comment” link on the top of each post. you may also feel free to contact me directly using the contact me form is you have specific questions, comments, suggestions or you that you would rather not make public information.
Hello everyone. Welcome to the debut of Critical Care Minutes. This blog is to be an educational and entertaining journey through the life in the ICU. I started my fellowship one week ago and already I have learned so much. Unfortunately, much of my days are currently spent studying for the Anesthesiology Part 1 exam. Arghhhh! I wish it was over already. July 14th I will be FREE!!!! After that I can put in the time and effort needed to get this blog up and rolling.
The purpose of this blog is to be a key resource for the residents, students and public out there whether in the medical field or just interested in learning more about how a life of an Intensive Care Physician really is? This blog will be a resource for students and residents and will contain several landmark articles, teaching videos for procedures as well as templates for writing notes / orders. I will review some of the common issues encountered in the ICU and plan on presenting an approach to solving those problems. “The Minutes” (as I like to nickname this blog) will also address some of the more “human” issues related to taking care of critically ill patients such as family, support, religion, faith, death and dying.
And of course we will get to ICU 2.0! The future is now and we must recognize it. So many advances have occurred in the science of medicine but for some reason the physicians are always the last to jump on the technological advances that are made all around us. My goal is to identify some of the most exciting technological advances that will take the management of patients in the ICU to the next level such as telemedicine and eICUs. ICU 2.0 will also be the location for the procedural teaching videos, ICU podcasts. eCritical Care is here to stay!
I hope you enjoy this blog and are educated as well as entertained. Stay tuned for the first installment of Critical Care Minutes!
