Image: EKOS Patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) fall into three general clinical categories: Massive PE, most often defined as hypotension due to right ventricular dysfunction. Short-term mortality is high (more than 1 in 7 die in-hospital). Systemic thrombolytic therapy (tissue plasminogen activator or tPA) is considered standard care by AHA and ACCP, because it [... read more]

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PulmCCM Roundup #2 Welcome back to the PulmCCM Roundup, formerly the Critical Care Roundup. Let’s jump right in to issue #2: Etomidate for intubation in sepsis: what’s the risk, really?  Etomidate has been suspected of causing adrenal insufficiency and potentially death in patients with severe sepsis, when used as an anesthesia-induction agent prior to intubation. This suspicion [... read more]

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FDA Warning on Doripenem (Doribax) for VAP In March 2014, the FDA issued a warning statement against Doribax (doripenem) for ventilator associated pneumonia, saying: Doribax carries an increased risk of death and lower clinical cure rates compared to use of imipenem and cilastatin … Doribax is not approved to treat any type of pneumonia. (Doripenem is approved [... read more]

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In Septic Shock, Goal of MAP > 65 mm Hg Remains Standard by Abhishek Biswas, MD In the 13 years since Rivers et al published their seminal paper that established “early goal directed therapy” for sepsis as the standard of care, treatment for severe sepsis and septic shock have evolved dramatically. Newer research questions the wisdom [... read more]

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May 10th and 11th (pre-congress courses on may 9th), Montreal. Great speakers, great topics, great city, great weather (well…hopefully no snow!). Do you know how to use ultrasound to help you diagnose or manage coma, bowel obstruction, CHF, dyspnea, swollen joints and renal failure, among other things?  No matter how good you are at the [... read more]

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Can we finally “Just Say No” to the mandatory use of central venous catheters and central venous saturation in severe sepsis and septic shock? by Muhammad Adrish, MD In a single center study published in 2001, Rivers et al reported that patients with severe sepsis and septic shock had significantly lower mortality (30.5% vs 46.5%) [... read more]

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