Critical Care

IV Fluid Replacement in neurosurgical patients

Little substantial human data exists concerning the impact of fluids on the brain, which may guide rational IV Fluid Replacement in neurosurgical patients. Therefore, recommendations arise from known factors that influence water movement into the brain. IV Fluid Replacement in neurosurgical patients can alter three properties of the blood, viz., osmolality, colloid oncotic pressure and

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Oxygen Toxicity

Oxygen Toxicity occurs when excessive oxygen inhalation is done as in prolonged ventilation with hundred percent (100%) oxygen. When the inspired oxygen saturation or FiO2 of a patient on oxygen therapy is kept for long time Toxicity of oxygen is bound can take place. FiO2 of 100 % should not be kept for more than 12

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Hyperbaric Oxygen

Hyperbaric Oxygen means delivering the oxygen above atmospheric pressure which is 760 mmHg (or 1 atm). Special hyperbaric chambers are made for providing hyperbaric Oxygen, which are very expensive. Hyperbaric Oxygen Uses A. Poisonings: Carbon monoxide poisoning (half life of CO at 1 atm is 214 minutes which can be reduced to 19 minutes at

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Cauda equina syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome arises from compression of the lumbosacral nerve roots. Large herniated lumbar intervertebral discs are the most common culprit. Other sources of compression include spinal or sacral fractures or surgery common in ICU trauma patients, lumbosacral neoplasms, spinal stenosis, nonneoplastic masses such as cysts, peripheral neuropathy, and infectious processes. Low back pain is

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Cardiac Output is not Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

A common mistake made by many clinicians is that they confuse cardiac output for Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction. Lets see how Cardiac Output is not Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction . Cardiac output equals the volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute, whereas stroke volume (SV) is the amount pumped on a single beat. Cardiac output

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Colloids Examples

Colloids are the type on intravenous fluids with high osmolarity that are ideal to transfuse in conditions like decreased intravascular volume. A Few Colloids Examples are: Dextrans (Lomodex) Albumins Gelatins (Haemaccel) Hydroxyethyl Starch Perflurocarbon Emulsions Blood Hextend The Colloids Examples are explained in a bit detail below. 1. Dextrans (Lomodex) For more on Dextrans read

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Stored Blood

Stored blood is one of the commonest transfused volume replacements. Blood is stored in the cold part of refrigerator at 4°C (never in the freezer). Since blood from donors it taken long before it has to be given to a patient, it is stored in the meantime in refrigerator to preserve it from getting spoiled. It can be

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