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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Fetal distress can be caused by a host of factors; most notably, hypoxemia and hypovolemia are dangerous for the viable fetus. It is not uncommon for a pregnant patient to be affected by critical illness. Examples of nonobstetric maladies that lead to intensive care unit admission among pregnant women are hematologic issues (venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolus,
Oxygen partial pressure decreases to 100 mm Hg up to alveoli. Oxygen tension in venous blood is 40 mm Hg. About one-fifth (20.9%) of air contains oxygen. In the inspired air, oxygen has partial pressure at 1/5 of the atmospheric pressure, i.e., 159 mm Hg. The larger the O2 or CO2 tension difference between the
Intensive care unit scoring systems or ICU scoring systems like APACHE and SAPS fall into two broad categories. Risk prediction (also called prognostic) models are designed to assess prognosis at the time of admission to the ICU or within the first 24 hours. Severity-of-illness scoring systems are used in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting as tools
The preparation of carbon dioxide gas is needed before it is actually stored in cylinders. The preparation of carbon dioxide gas is done though following steps : 1. From fermentation in the brewing of beer 2. By-product of manufacture of hydrogen in petroleum refining 3. Combustion of other fuels 4. By heating magnesium and calcium
In adult with normal hemoglobin and hematocrit blood losses more than 20% of their blood volume (or hematocrit falls below 30%) are to be replaced with blood (while in western countries replacement may be required on loss more than 25 to 30%). A few important indications of transfusion of blood are mentioned below. • Losses
Blood Type and Crossmatch is essential for the management of all surgical cases as well as critically ill patients. Although red cell membrane contains more than 300 antigens and 20 blood group antigens are known but still the most important Is ABO grouping because most serious mismatch transfusions reactions are usually caused by ABO incompatible
Acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is common with an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 new cases in the United States each year. The mean age of presentation is 31 years and the majority of patients are male. SCI is associated with significant long-term disability and mortality. Etiology Spinal cord injury has traditionally been classified as traumatic
A woman in the third trimester of pregnancy is predisposed to supine hypotension syndrome in pregnancy while in the supine or sitting position due to the hemodynamic and anatomic changes of pregnancy. The large uterus of late pregnancy can compress the inferior vena cava (IVC) such that venous return is significantly reduced. This decreased preload
Extubation is the process of removal of an Endotracheal tube from a patient. A person is usually put on endotracheal tube if he is unconscious so as to protect his airways or to ventilate the person if he is not breathing adequately. Intubation is also the best method to secure an airway even in the
