critical-care

Modern intensive-care ventilators are designed to maintain a constant airway pressure when patients breathe spontaneously. Our new study shows that they often fail to do so. We tested five commercial ICU ventilators using an active lung simulator. During conventional CPAP, their inspiratory and expiratory valves and pressure-control systems imposed an...

New research, published in The Journal of Immunology, identifies biomarkers of a distinct immune profile that could be used to identify patients at risk for chronic critical illness (CCI) on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) after traumatic injury. Identifying which patients are at increased risk for CCI could allow doctors to intervene earlier, […]

BackgroundVentilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a frequent intensive care unit (ICU) complication linked to prolonged ventilation, extended ICU and hospital stays, increased costs, and higher mortality. Current guidelines recommend light sedation with dexmedetomidine (DEX) or propofol for ventilated adults. Although DEX has shown anti-inflammatory effects in animal models, its impact on VAP ou…

In mechanically ventilated patients, airway pressure (Paw) is measured at the ventilator, but the pressure that actually reaches the patient is the tracheal pressure (Ptrach). The two can differ substantially because the endotracheal tube has a very high flow resistance, comparable to the airway resistance of a patient with severe...

Each year, UNC Hospitals administers the Press Ganey Medical Practice survey to solicit feedback from patients. The survey asks our patients about their likelihood of recommending their provider’s practice to their friends and family. This year, 128 Department of Medicine physicians and advanced practice providers received the highest recommendations. We are honored to recognize the following as …

M. Bradley Drummond, MD, MHS, will serve as the new Chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine in the University of Pittsburg Department of Medicine, effective September 1, 2026. Dr. Drummond is currently a Professor of Medicine, Vice Chief of Outpatient Services, Medical Co-Director of the Pulmonary Specialty Clinics, and Director of the Obstructive Lung Disea…

BackgroundSepsis and septic shock impose severe cardiovascular stress characterized by sympathetic overactivation and detrimental tachycardia, which is strongly linked to poor outcomes. While ultra-short-acting β1-blockers have shown promise in controlled trials for heart rate (HR) control, a critical gap remains regarding the optimal β1-selective regimen for complex, multimorbid, vasopressor-dep…

Our paper “Prediction and prevention of ventilation impairments during bronchoscopy” has been published in ICMx https://rdcu.be/eU6zF The key findings: -Inserting a bronchoscope causes the resistance of an endotracheal tube to increase dramatically, scaling with the negative fifth power of the effective tube diameter (defined as the diameter of a circular...

Drs. Kambez Benam, Charles Dela Cruz, and Alicia Rizzo honored for leadership, innovation, and research excellence in pulmonary and critical care medicine

IntroductionDespite the established use of nalbuphine hydrochloride in anesthesia and obstetrics, high-quality evidence supporting its application in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains limited. This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of nalbuphine hydrochloride for analgesia in ICU patients.MethodsThis is a multicenter, randomized, single-blind, parallel, positive control study. Elig…

Invitation to join Ben Fabry’s seminar talk on the limits of modern ventilator and recent breakthroughs in the development of ventilator-supported spontaneous breathing of ICU patients. The talk takes place on Tuesday, May 5th, 10:15 am (CEST) in the Lecture Hall of the Zentrum für Medizinische Physik und Technik, Henkestr....

C. Adrian Austin, MD, MSCR, Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, is a co-author of the newly published “ Executive Summary: Society of Critical Care Medicine Guidelines on Caring for Older Adults in the ICU, “ appearing in Critical Care Medicine. The guidelines were developed by a multidisciplinary panel convened by the Board of the American College of C…

This page provides a comprehensive list of ICU thesis topics crafted to assist students in selecting significant research areas for their academic theses. Aimed at individuals pursuing advanced studies in critical care medicine within the health sciences, it offers an extensive compilation of 200 topics alongside a detailed article exploring the field’s scope. These topics encompass current chall…

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a condition that is characterized by poor oxygenation and ventilation as a result of diffuse alveolar and endothelial injury in the lungs. There are several etiologies including viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, sepsis, trauma, and pancreatitis. A patient meets criteria for ARDS when they have the following: 1) acute onset, bilateral lung infiltra…

Understanding the various shock states is crucial for any healthcare professional, especially those preparing for board exams or working in critical care settings. Differentiating between the types of shock—hypovolemic, cardiogenic, distributive, and obstructive—is essential for timely diagnosis and effective treatment. In this blog, we'll explore the different shock states, using high-yield cont…

Written by: Brett Cohen, MD (NUEM PGY-3) Edited by: Duncan Wilson, MD (NUEM Alum ‘18) Expert commentary by: Luisa Morales-Nebreda, MD Expert Commentary I’ll start by saying that the assessment of a patient’s intravascular volume status and fluid responsiveness is one of the most difficult tasks in clinical medicine, yet it remains a crucial one to adequately manage acute circulatory failure. Afte…