Critical Care
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Oseltamivir beats supportive care for patients hospitalized with seasonal influenza
Investigator Anthony Bai, MD, MSc, and infectious disease expert Christina Thornton, MD, PhD, discuss a large analysis that showed an in-hospital mortality rate of 3.5% for oseltamivir vs 4.9% for supportive care.
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Considerations for single parents with terminal illness
Clinicians often focus more on what happens in the hospital than on issues beyond the hospital. This article covers the complex end-of-life issues that clinicians should consider for seriously ill patients with minor children.
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Keep up with the latest practices, perspectives in critical care
CHEST 2025 will present updates on cardiac output monitoring, diagnosing and addressing sepsis, best practices in endotracheal intubation, optimal use of new tools in mechanical ventilation, and much more.
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Study shows earlier vasopressin initiation for sepsis reduced in-hospital mortality
Critical care expert Natalie Achamallah, MD, FCCP, said OVISS data support guidelines that recommend earlier vasopressin as well as lower norepinephrine doses.
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UK trial finds propofol remains preferred ICU sedation agent
The recent A2B trial found that neither dexmedetomidine nor clonidine are superior to propofol and may increase risks of agitation and bradycardia.
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Ketamine vs etomidate for intubation in patients who are critically ill
Commonly used for sedation for endotracheal intubation, these drugs are often selected for their favorable hemodynamic profiles.
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Bronchoscopy: An emerging role for advanced practice providers
Bronchoscopy is becoming an increasingly common skill for a growing subset of interventional pulmonary and critical care APPs.
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Procalcitonin levels may guide antibiotic duration in patients with suspected sepsis
Paul Dark, MD, PhD, said a 10% reduction in duration of antibiotic use shown in a recent study may seem small, but in the context of antibiotic stewardship, a 10% reduction is important.
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CHEST to offer first-of-its-kind certification for APPs in critical care
For APPs in the critical care setting, this certification exam will be a valuable way to validate their knowledge and competence in the ICU.
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Airway pressure release ventilation: Should it be used in the early stages of ARDS?
APRV has traditionally been viewed as a salvage therapy for patients with ARDS, but recent literature suggests that it can provide better overall lung recruitment with less sedation and more ventilator-free days.
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CMS decision positively impacts the future of home ventilation coverage
CMS recently released a decision on coverage for noninvasive ventilation devices for patients with COPD, a process that CHEST has been closely involved in.
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For the neuromuscular disease community, ventilation coverage victory doesn’t carry over
Patient advocate Spero Koulouras said he believes CMS home ventilation coverage criteria for patients with disorders such as ALS are still ambiguous enough that private insurers have interpreted them to deny and delay coverage.
