Critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation require analgesia and sedation. At present, propofol remains the most widely used sedative for intubated/ventilated patients. Recent trials have suggested that dexmedetomidine may reduce delirium and the duration of mechanical ventilation compared with other sedative medications. In fact, recent SCCM guidelines suggest the use of dexmedetomidine over propofol in intubated patients. In this podcast, we discuss a recent randomized trial that compared the effectiveness and safety of a dexmedetomidine-based sedation strategy with a propofol-based sedation strategy in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients.
Hyponatremia is one of the most common electrolyte disorders encountered in emergency medicine and critical care. Patients with hyponatremic encephalopathy represent a severe form...
As bitter cold temperatures grip the Northeast, many struggle to stay warm and often resort to nontraditional methods of heating. As a result, there...
In this podcast we are joined by EM/CCM superstars Dr. Gabe Wardi and Dr. Kit Tainter, who discuss the physiologic effects of metabolic acidosis,...