Topic Review
Septic Acute Kidney Injury
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that results from a profoundly dysregulated response to infection. It can lead to organ failure distant from the primary site of the infection, particularly in the kidneys. Sepsis can cause acute kidney injury (AKI). Sepsis and AKI form a vicious cycle, as sepsis is one of the main drivers of critical illness.
  • 174
  • 08 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Vasopressin in Sepsis and Other Shock States
Septic shock is defined by the need for vasopressors to correct hypotension and lactic acidosis secondary to infection, with a high mortality rate. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommend vasopressin as a second-line vasopressor, added to norepinephrine. 
  • 275
  • 07 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Peptide Nucleic Acid
Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is an artificial DNA analog in which the negatively charged phosphodiester backbone is replaced by a charge-neutral pseudopeptide backbone. PNA exhibits several conformational flexibilities. It can adopt the A and B helical structures upon binding to target RNA and DNA, respectively, and form antiparallel and parallel duplexes. The antiparallel duplex is generally more stable than the parallel one.
  • 303
  • 03 Nov 2023
Topic Review
Surfactant Abnormalities in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a major cause of hypoxemic respiratory failure in adults, leading to the requirement for mechanical ventilation and poorer outcomes. Dysregulated surfactant metabolism and function are characteristic of ARDS. A combination of alveolar epithelial damage leading to altered surfactant synthesis, secretion, and breakdown with increased functional inhibition from overt alveolar inflammation contributes to the clinical features of poor alveolar compliance and alveolar collapse.
  • 173
  • 27 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Electrical Impedance Tomography
Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive bedside imaging technique that provides real-time lung ventilation information on critically ill patients. EIT can potentially become a valuable tool for optimising mechanical ventilation, especially in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
  • 419
  • 27 Oct 2023
Topic Review
CAR-T Cell Therapy Recipients Admitted to the ICU
To better understand immunotherapy-related complications from an ICU standpoint, acknowledge the deteriorating patient on the ward, reduce the intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate, advance ICU care, and improve the outcomes of these patients, a standard of care and research regarding CAR-T cell-based immunotherapies should be created. 
  • 226
  • 23 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Nutrition Therapy in Patients with Liver Disease
Nutrition therapy in critically ill patients with liver disease represents a challenge for Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Nutritional status is correlated with the degree of hepatic dysfunction and the presence of malnutrition worsens outcomes in these patients. The nutritional risk that critically ill patients represent, together with the pathophysiological alterations of liver disease, especially in terms of nutrition intake and protein depletion, leads to malnutrition and sarcopenia. Nutrition therapy improves the survival of these patients; however, this is challenging since they more frequently experience difficulties with nutrition delivery. In consequence, both evaluation of nutritional status and an individualized approach seem mandatory for achieving nutrition objectives.
  • 225
  • 16 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Hypercoagulability in End-Stage Liver Disease
End-stage liver disease (ESLD) is associated with significant changes in a patient’s coagulation profile. These changes are unique in that they involve all branches of the coagulation system. The hypercoagulability is associated with significant endothelial dysfunction (ED) due to nitric oxide dysregulation.
  • 257
  • 16 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Anticoagulation Strategies in Patients with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has recently increased exponentially. ECMO has become the preferred mode of organ support in refractory respiratory or circulatory failure. The fragile balance of haemostasis physiology is massively altered by the patient’s critical condition and specifically the aetiology of the underlying disease. Furthermore, an application of ECMO conveys another disturbance of haemostasis due to blood-circuit interaction and the presence of an oxygenator. 
  • 187
  • 06 Oct 2023
Topic Review
ICU-Acquired Colonization and Infection in COVID-19 Patients
A large proportion of ICU-acquired infections are related to multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR). Infections caused by these bacteria are associated with increased mortality, and prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay.  Although a huge amount of literature is available on COVID-19 and MDR bacteria, only a few clinical trials have properly evaluated the association between them using a non-COVID-19 control group and accurate design and statistical methods. The results of these studies suggest that COVID-19 patients are at a similar risk of ICU-acquired MDR colonization compared to non-COVID-19 controls. However, a higher risk of ICU-acquired infection related to MDR bacteria has been reported in several studies, mainly ventilator-associated pneumonia and bloodstream infection. Several potential explanations could be provided for the high incidence of ICU-acquired infections related to MDR. Immunomodulatory treatments, such as corticosteroids, JAK2 inhibitors, and IL-6 receptor antagonist, might play a role in the pathogenesis of these infections. Additionally, a longer stay in the ICU was reported in COVID-19 patients, resulting in higher exposure to well-known risk factors for ICU-acquired MDR infections, such as invasive procedures and antimicrobial treatment. Another possible explanation is the surge during successive COVID-19 waves, with excessive workload and low compliance with preventive measures. Further studies should evaluate the evolution of the incidence of ICU-acquired infections related to MDR bacteria, given the change in COVID-19 patient profiles. A better understanding of the immune status of critically ill COVID-19 patients is required to move to personalized treatment and reduce the risk of ICU-acquired infections. The role of specific preventive measures, such as targeted immunomodulation, should be investigated.
  • 147
  • 27 Sep 2023
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