icu

Lumbar puncture (LP) is a bedside procedure I occasionally do as an intensivist to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding the spinal cord and brain. CSF analysis can help diagnose central nervous...

Lorazepam (Ativan) is an IV, IM, and oral benzodiazepine medication which potentiates the GABA(A) receptor resulting in anxiolysis, sedation, amnesia, and muscle relaxation. Since lorazepam has limited lipid solubility but is highly protein-bound, it...

Donation after cardiac death (DCD) is an organ procurement process for transplantation in patients with irreversible brain injuries who do not meet the formal criteria of brain death. These patients are transitioned to "comfort...

Pneumoperitoneum refers to free air within the peritoneal cavity most commonly caused by perforation of a hollow viscus from a procedure (e.g., endoscopy), trauma, cancer, bowel obstruction, inflammation, or ulceration. As this air accumulates...

Ogilvie's syndrome is an acute, paralytic ileus of the colon without mechanical obstruction associated with massive right colon dilation. Symptoms can include abdominal distension/pain, constipation, and in more severe situations, leukocytosis with fevers. In line...

In medicine, concentrations are often expressed as milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L). But what's the difference? A mole is the International System of Units (SI) base unit for the amount of...

Intravenous (IV) fluids are ubiquitous in medicine. Crystalloid fluids consist of electrolytes and/or dextrose. They are traditionally used to replace ongoing fluid losses, hydrate patients who cannot tolerate enteral intake, reconstitute medications, etc. Colloids...

Patients with suspected diaphragm paralysis (e.g., elevated hemidiaphragm on chest x-ray, a surgery that is high risk for compromising the phrenic nerve, etc.) can be evaluated using motion mode ("M-mode") ultrasonography at the bedside....