SCCM RSS News

Dexmedtomidine in Patients Requiring Mechanical Ventilation

Fri, 4 May 2012 09:07:25 -0500

Sedation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is assumed to facilitate proper care with improved patient comfort and safety, though long-term use is fraught with potential serious adverse effects. The use of dexmedetomidine, a sedative with alpha-2 agonist properties, may enhance patient safety and comfort in long-term sedation, but evidence has been limited and inconclusive. In the April issue of The Journal of American Medicine Association, Jakob and the Dexmedetomidine for Long-Term Sedation Investigators conducted two parallel randomized trials to determine the efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus midazolam or propofol in maintaining sedation, reducing duration of mechanical ventilation and improving patient interaction with nursing care...

Be Critical Care Aware in May

Fri, 4 May 2012 09:07:07 -0500

During National Critical Care Awareness and Recognition Month (NCCARM), be sure to share your celebration ideas and stories with the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and your colleagues. This month-long celebration allows critical care team members to exemplify their dedication to patient care while creating more awareness of this demanding, life-saving practice...

Recognizing Nursing Excellence

Fri, 4 May 2012 09:06:48 -0500

Diane Byrum, RN, CCNS, CCRN, FCCM, received this year’s Norma J. Shoemaker Award for Critical Care Nursing Excellence in recognition of her dedication to high-quality clinical practice. As a clinical nurse specialist at Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville in Huntersville, North Carolina, USA, Byrum exemplifies excellence in critical care nursing through her commitment to critically ill patients and critical care providers. A skilled clinical educator and mentor, she consistently makes a difference in staff education through her expertise and program development, while also devoting significant time to advance the profession. She has worked to improve the skills and training of direct care nurses, increasing the number of nationally certified nurses at her institution...

Sessions on Sedation, Sodium and Renal Added to LearnICU.org

Fri, 4 May 2012 09:06:32 -0500

Several videos featuring the sponsored sessions from the Society’s Critical Care Congress in Houston, Texas, USA, are now available free of charge at LearnICU.org...

New Techniques to Measure Adequacy of Oxygenation

Fri, 4 May 2012 09:06:15 -0500

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitors are increasingly being used in pediatric intensive care units to determine regional changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin. These monitors provide a continuous, noninvasive measure of tissue oxygenation and are not dependent on a pulsatile signal from the arteries. Rather, they gauge the mix of arterial and venous blood in the tissue over which they are placed...

Practice and Prepare with SCCM's Board Review Courses

Fri, 4 May 2012 09:05:56 -0500

The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) Adult and Pediatric Multiprofessional Critical Care Board Review Courses (MCCBRC) are the preferred resources for critical care professionals seeking a comprehensive review of content focused on the diagnosis, monitoring and management of critically ill patients. Spend four-and-a-half days in intensive review sessions designed to prepare fellows and attendings for the certification and recertification examinations in critical care...

Improve Imaging Capabilities with Ultrasound Courses

Fri, 4 May 2012 09:05:37 -0500

Ultrasound imaging enhances the practitioner’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat critical care patients. Additional benefits of focused bedside ultrasound include its portability, accuracy, real-time visualization, and efficacy in various procedures in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. Receive the latest ultrasound information and training during the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) popular course, Fundamentals of Critical Care Ultrasound...

Webcast Addresses Family Communication, End-of-Life

Fri, 4 May 2012 09:05:12 -0500

In recent years, increased attention has been paid to improving end-of-life care for both patients and their families. The complexity of situations in the intensive care unit (ICU) often makes it difficult to determine patients’ preferences and values. To communicate a consistent message to the patients’ families, and to support and facilitate decision making, collaboration among members of the critical care team is vital.
The Society of Critical Care Medicine's (SCCM) May 24 webcast, Talking to Families About Palliative and End-of-Life Care, will provide methods for communicating with families of critically ill patients to provide optimal outcomes, overcome communication barriers and work together effectively...

SCCM Sign-On Letter Addresses Antibacterial Drug Approval

Fri, 4 May 2012 09:04:55 -0500

The Society of Critical Care Medicine, in collaboration with patients, public health facilities and other medical societies, signed on to a letter urging Congress to establish a new antibacterial drug approval pathway as part of the upcoming Prescription Drug User Fee Act legislation. The Society asks its members to review the letter and to consider expressing concern to their elected officials as well...

Epinephrine for Cardiac Arrest

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:51:46 -0500

For more than 40 years, epinephrine has been regarded as a standard of care in advanced cardiac life support. In the March 21 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, Hagihara et al performed the largest prospective, nonrandomized observational study to date to determine how epinephrine use in cardiopulmonary resuscitation before hospital arrival was associated with immediate and one-month survival. Among cardiac arrest patients, 15,030 received epinephrine versus 402,158 patients who did not. In the adjusted propensity-matched analysis, epinephrine use was associated with better return of spontaneous circulation (hazard ratio [HR], 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.03 to 2.48), but worse one-month survival (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.68) and worse functional outcomes (HR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.10-0.44). In all other adjusted analyses, including various sensitivity analyses, epinephrine was found to have a negative association with survival at one month and with functional outcomes, despite an improvement in immediate return of spontaneous circulation...

Study Highlights Disparities in Critical Care Research Funding

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:51:28 -0500

A new study from the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) has uncovered that the proportion of federally funded research dollars spent on critical care is significantly lower than the percentage of dollars spent delivering that care. "A Comparison of Critical Care Research Funding and the Financial Burden of Critical Illness in the United States" found that research funding for critical care represents as little as 1.7% of the federal research budget, while care for critically ill patients is estimated to make up as much as 11% of national healthcare expenditures and 39% of all hospital admission costs. Find additional information, including a detailed chart comparing research dollars for cancer and heart disease to those spent on critical care...

iCritical Care Announces New Hosts

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:51:11 -0500

The Society of Critical Care Medicine is pleased to welcome its new iCritical Care editor, Jeffrey Guy, MD, MSc, MMHC. Keeping with the tradition of excellence established by the SCCM podcasts, Guy will host in-depth interviews with authors from Critical Care Medicine and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine as well as prominent members of the critical care community. He will be joined by new associate editor Michael S. Weinstein, MD, FACS, FCCP,and returning associate editor Margaret Parker, MD, FCCM. Launched in 2005, the iCritical Care podcasts draw thousands of listeners for each episode and are consistently ranked among the top 20 medical podcasts on iTunes. The Society invites you to tune in and add your ratings through iTunes...

New Resources Added to LearnICU.org

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:50:47 -0500

LearnICU.org, the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s premiere website for critical care resources, is updated regularly with content from the Society’s activities as well as from individual users. With 24 Knowledge Lines to sort resources by category and access to Web-based courses, all critical care practitioners should bookmark this site...

Regional Chapter to Hold Scientific Symposium

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:50:26 -0500

The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) many regional chapters provide educational sessions and networking opportunities. The Carolinas-Virginias Chapter of SCCM will hold its 30th Annual Scientific Symposium on June 15, 2012, at the Colonial Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel and Suites in Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The deadline to submit abstracts for the meeting is May 1, 2012. Contact chapter president Tyler Putnam II, MD, at atputnam@carilionclinic.org or vice-president Cindy Zerfoss, RN, MSN, Med, APRN-BC, at cindyzerfoss@gmail.com for additional information about the meeting...

Register On Site for the Clinical Focus Conference on Sepsis

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:50:04 -0500

Join your colleagues April 26 and 27, 2012, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, for the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) Clinical Focus conference, Sepsis-Related Respiratory Failure. During this conference, a team of multiprofessional experts will provide effective strategies for developing, implementing and performing protocols for managing sepsis-related respiratory failure...

Palliative Care Webcast Registration Deadline April 25

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:49:43 -0500

Register by Wednesday, April 25, 2012, for the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) upcoming webcast, Integrating Communication Bundles Into Your ICU. Palliative care is increasingly accepted as an integral component of comprehensive care for critically ill patients, including those pursuing every reasonable treatment to prolong life. For these patients, symptom control and patient and family support, requires strong communication skills to ensure treatments are aligned with patient and family values and preferences...

Receive the Most Comprehensive Review in Critical Care

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:49:26 -0500

The Society of Critical Care Medicine's 2012 Adult and Pediatric Multiprofessional Critical Care Board Review Courses (MCCBRC) are your source for the most comprehensive board preparation in critical care. Featuring four-and-a-half days of extensive review of the field of critical care medicine, the 2012 Adult and Pediatric MCCBRC offers the most extensive update in the diagnosis, monitoring and management of critically ill patients. Led by an internationally recognized faculty, these courses offer expert guidance on the core areas of critical care medicine. Whether you need to certify, recertify or simply review, the Adult and Pediatric MCCBRC provides an excellent update and thorough overview of the field...

SCCM Sign-On Letter Addresses the Drug Shortage Crisis

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:49:08 -0500

The Society of Critical Care Medicine, in collaboration with clinicians, healthcare facilities and drug manufacturers, signed on to a letter sent to Sen. Tom Harkin last week, urging that Congress address drug shortages before delays and disruptions in patient care become even more widespread. The Society asks its members to review the letter and to consider expressing concern to their elected officials as well...

Effects of Amantadine for Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 10:13:58 -0500

Limited observational data have suggested that amantadine, an indirect dopamine agonist and N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist, may have favorable neurobehavioral effects for patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). The favorable effects may be due to enhanced neurotransmission during a period of dopamine depletion and neuronal hypoexcitability following brain injury. In the March issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, Giancino et al designed a multicenter, prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, funded by the National Institutes of Health, to determine the effectiveness of four weeks of amantadine therapy in promoting recovery from a post-traumatic vegetative or minimally conscious state...

Start Preparing for Critical Care Awareness Month

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 10:13:38 -0500

As May approaches, it is time for intensive care unit (ICU) teams to consider how they will celebrate National Critical Care Awareness and Recognition Month (NCCARM). This special month is honored among ICUs in various ways, from sharing blue treats with staff and wearing blue on Friday, May 18, 2012, to more formal events, such as educational symposia, staff recognition ceremonies, or ICU tours. Other ICUs invite former patients and their families to meet staff and share their progress. Regardless of how you celebrate NCCARM this year, be sure to share your stories and photos with the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Post to our Facebook page or email info@sccm.org. Your stories will inspire other ICUs as we all celebrate the extraordinary contributions of our critical care colleagues in May...

Recognize Teaching and Clinical Practice Excellence

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 10:13:18 -0500

Congratulations to Joseph L. Nates, MD, MBA, FCCM, who received the 2012 Dr. Joseph and Rae Brown Award. Nates serves as a deputy department chair and professor in the Department of Critical Care at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, USA. He is also a past president of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) Texas Chapter and the current chair of the SCCM Chapters and Affiliates Alliance, as well as a member-at-large on SCCM Council. Nates' extraordinary accomplishments have solidified the Texas Chapter and enabled it to reach a significant stature. Under Nates’ leadership, the chapter experienced a 50% increase in membership and was the first to establish an independent website with a members-only area to improve communication. As the chair of the Chapter and Affiliates Alliance, he works with organizations worldwide to advance the Society’s mission. Beyond his work with SCCM, he has played an integral role in teaching students from multiple disciplines in the critical care setting...

FDA Workshop Will Address Development of Sedation Products

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 10:13:02 -0500

The Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research is holding a scientific workshop in May to solicit information on a variety of issues related to the clinical development and use of sedation products in adult and pediatric patients. Numerous Society of Critical Care Medicine members will be presenting at the workshop, and Hannah Wunsch, MD, MSc, will represent the Society...

ICU Audit Seeks to Identify Patient Populations

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 10:12:45 -0500

The Intensive Care Over Nations (ICON) audit, which seeks to gather data from intensive care units (ICUs) around the world to develop a snapshot of the types of critically ill patients (including the incidence and progression of organ failure), will be conducted from May 8 to May 18, 2012. The study will include all adult patients (> 16 years) admitted to an ICU between these dates. Planned ICU admissions (including postoperative surveillance) will not be considered. Data on epidemiology, organ function and support, lengths of ICU and hospital stays, and outcome will be collected. As an audit with anonymous data collection, no informed consent will be required...

Pediatric Webcast on Packed Red Blood Cell Transfusions

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 10:12:28 -0500

The use of packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions is common, occurring in approximately 17% of all pediatric intensive care unit patients. However, there are risks associated with PRBC transfusions, including infections, transfusion reactions, fluid overload, and medical errors. The Society of Critical Care Medicine's (SCCM) April 19 webcast, The Pediatric Oxygen Series, Session 2: Moving Oxygen Around, will present an overview of the relationship between red blood cell transfusions and clinical outcomes in critically ill children...

Register On Site for Sepsis Conference

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 10:12:08 -0500

Register on site for the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) upcoming Clinical Focus conference, Sepsis-Related Respiratory Failure. During this conference, a team of multiprofessional experts will provide effective strategies for developing, implementing and performing protocols for managing sepsis-related respiratory failure...

New Webcast Series Addresses Palliative Care in the ICU

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 10:11:37 -0500

Approximately a half million critically ill patients die each year in the intensive care unit (ICU). Others may survive their acute illness only to remain chronically ill with functional and cognitive impairments. For these patients, palliative care, including symptom control and patient and family support, requires strong communication skills to ensure treatments are aligned with patient and family values and preferences. These communication skills are becoming recognized as an integral component of critical care. Please join us on Thursday, April 26, 2012, for the first webcast in a newly developed series addressing palliative care in the ICU. The Society of Critical Care Medicine's (SCCM) webcast, Integrating Communication Bundles into Your ICU, will discuss how effective use of these bundles can reduce patient and family anxiety, provide a more positive environment and reduce unnecessary costs...

Advance Your Skills With Hands-On Ultrasound Courses

Fri, 6 Apr 2012 10:11:16 -0500

Ultrasound examinations in the critical care setting are steadily rising because of equipment portability, ease of use and ability to provide immediate, accurate evaluations. With demand for ultrasound on the rise and new developments in technology, it is essential that critical care practitioners stay up-to-date in this advanced modality. Receive the latest ultrasound information and training during the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) popular course, Fundamentals of Critical Care Ultrasound...

Military Application of TXA in Trauma Emergency Resuscitation

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:59:17 -0500

As our understanding of the coagulation cascade evolves, intensivists have sought ways to manipulate the pathway to attenuate the effects of hemorrhagic shock. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a lysine analog that binds the plasminogen molecule, inhibiting fibrinolysis. In the February issue of Archives of Surgery, Morrison et al report their experience in the use of TXA in patients with wartime injuries...

iRoom Opened to Explain VAE Algorithm

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:58:51 -0500

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is among the most common hospital acquired infections, but accurate surveillance for it is difficult because of the lack of objective, reliable and valid definitions. A new approach has been developed and centers on ventilator-associated conditions and complications in an attempt to limit the inaccuracies inherent in the diagnosis of VAP. It uses current criteria and focuses instead on more general, objectively defined measures of ventilator-associated events (VAEs). This algorithm was designed to detect a broad range of conditions or complications occurring in mechanically ventilated adult patients...

Critical Connections Highlights Research, Drug Shortages

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:58:35 -0500

The February/March issue of Critical Connections focuses on research in critical care, highlighting efforts across all professions and in all stages, from clinical nursing research to translational pharmacy investigations and surgical bench perspectives...

Award Recognizes Excellence in Bedside Teaching

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:58:19 -0500

Paul Rogers, MD, received this year’s Shubin-Weil Master Clinician/Teacher: Excellence in Bedside Teaching Award in recognition of his excellence in both teaching and the ethical practice of critical care. A tenured professor in the Department of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and director of the Multidisciplinary Critical Care Training Program, Rogers has set the standard for dedicated teachers. He has dedicated himself to the teaching of critical care medicine, while focusing his research on effective strategies for providing bedside medical education. Rogers founded and taught an elective course in critical care that takes the principles of critical care and applies them to common situations new doctors find themselves in during their first years as house staff...

Nominate Prestigious Fellows for MCCM

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:58:01 -0500

The American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCM) last year announced the new designation, Master of Critical Care Medicine (MCCM), for its most prestigious Fellows. Those with the MCCM designation have distinguished themselves through outstanding contributions in research and education, as well as through service to the Society and the field. They have achieved national and international professional prominence due to personal character, leadership and eminence in clinical practice. MCCMs must have been Fellows of the ACCM for at least five years...

Advance Registration Ends Soon for Sepsis Conference

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:57:43 -0500

Register today to guarantee your spot at the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) upcoming Clinical Focus conference, Sepsis-Related Respiratory Failure. Advance registration ends Wednesday, March 28, 2012. During this two-day conference, a team of multiprofessional experts will provide effective strategies for developing, implementing and executing protocols for the management of sepsis-related respiratory failure...

Packed Red Blood Cell Transfusions: Potential Risks and Benefits

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:57:27 -0500

Critically ill pediatric patients have a high incidence of anemia at admission and throughout their pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) stay. The use of packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusions is common, with approximately 17% of all pediatric ICU patients receiving transfusions. However, there are risks associated with PRBC transfusions, including infections, transfusion reactions, fluid overload, and medical errors...

SCCM Calls for Antibiotic Development

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:57:03 -0500

The Society of Critical Care Medicine, in partnership with 50 other organizations, has signed on to a letter urging Congress to address the serious and growing problems of antimicrobial resistance and the dry pipeline for antibiotic research and development...

Results of the EDEN Trial: Full vs. Trophic Enteral Feeding

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 08:21:40 -0600

The amount of artificial nutrition required to optimize outcomes in patients with acute lung injury (ALI) is unknown. To address this problem, the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Clinical Trials Network, headed by Todd Rice, MD, MS, from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, conducted a prospective, randomized open-label trial comparing the effect of initial trophic enteral feeding versus initial protocolized full enteral feeding for the first six days of mechanical ventilation in patients with ALI...

Critical Statistics Brochure Offers Landscape of the Specialty

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 08:21:23 -0600

Members of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Advocacy Committee have revised the brochure, Critical Care Statistics in the United States. This resource provides metrics and information on the current issues facing the critical care community and may be used as a reference in efforts related to advocacy, public relations and general education. Highlights of the brochure include data on the cost of critical care, the patient population, intensive care unit facilities, and staffing and salary benchmarks...

SCCM Welcomes the New Mexico Chapter

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 08:21:05 -0600

The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) is pleased to welcome the New Mexico Chapter as its twelfth regional partner. Jonathan Marinaro, MD, will serve as the New Mexico Chapter president as the group develops regional and local activities and facilitates new networking opportunities. Those practicing critical care in New Mexico may learn more about this chapter at www.sccm-nm.org or email info@SCCM-NM.org. The New Mexico Chapter also is on Facebook. Chapters create multiple opportunities for members to meet their peers, participate in their community, and interact with local and national leaders. Learn more about joining one of the 12 SCCM Chapters or establishing your own chapter...

Former SCCM President Retiring From Critical Care

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 08:20:45 -0600

Former Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) President Peter R. Holbrook, MD, FCCM, has announced that he is retiring from the position of chief medical officer at Children’s National Medical Center after a tenure of more than 35 years. Holbrook joined the center in 1975 as the director of the pediatric intensive care unit. During his tenure he helped build the intensive, critical care and trauma teams, and was named chairman of the Department of Critical Care Medicine in 1986. In 1995, he accepted the appointment as CEO, a role he held until named Interim CEO this past summer...

Protocols for Managing Sepsis-Related Respiratory Failure

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 08:20:28 -0600

Sepsis affects more than 750,000 Americans each year, killing more than 215,000 and causing more deaths than breast cancer, lung can¬cer and prostate cancer combined. Early identification, appropriate intervention, and advanced resuscitation have been shown to improve sepsis survival. Develop strategies for identifying and rapidly applying interventions to promote a significant and sustainable decrease in deaths due to sepsis-related respiratory failure at the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) newest Clinical Focus conference, Sepsis-Related Respiratory Failure, to be held April 26 and 27, 2012, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA...

Practice and Prepare with SCCM's Board Review Courses

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 08:20:06 -0600

The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s 2012 Adult and Pediatric Multiprofessional Critical Care Board Review Courses (MCCBRC) set the standard in board preparation with a comprehensive review that prepares fellows and attendings for the critical care certification and recertification examinations. Led by an internationally recognized faculty, these four-and-a-half-day courses offer expert guidance on the core areas of critical care medicine. Whether you need to certify, recertify or simply review, MCCBRC provides an excellent update and thorough overview of the field...

Hospital Compare Now Reports CLABSI Rates

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:23:38 -0600

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service's Hospital Compare has begun publically reporting central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates in intensive care units throughout the United States. This new reporting initiative will show data voluntarily reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network. This data collection began in January 2011. According to the CDC, public reporting is part of a wider effort to hold hospitals more accountable for reducing infection rates. The CDC estimates that about 41,000 CLABSIs occurred in U.S. hospitals in 2009. Studies show that up to 25% of patients who contract a CLABSI will die from the infection. Caring for a patient with a CLABSI adds about $17,000 to the costs of hospitalization...

CCSC Releases Measure Gap Analysis

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:23:20 -0600

The National Quality Forum, an organization responsible for a cyclical review cycle of performance measures with reporting responsibilities to the Department of Health and Human Services, recently approached the Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC) to develop a document identifying potential measurement gaps for intensive care unit care. To respond to this opportunity, the four society presidents each appointed expert members and formed the CCSC Quality Improvement Task Force, aimed at pinpointing potential areas within critical care that could benefit from improved measurement. The CCSC has now released a measure gap analysis, which the National Quality Forum will consider when their newly formed Pulmonary and Critical Care Consensus Standards Maintenance and Endorsement Committee convenes in March 2012. A roster of proposed committee members is available; the public comment period on the roster closed February 2...

Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury Guidelines Updated

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:23:02 -0600

The Guidelines for the Acute Medical Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Infants, Children, and Adolescents have been updated and published as a Web-only open access supplement with the January issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. Developed by a broad panel of experts and endorsed by 10 organizations, including the Society of Critical Care Medicine, this rigorous update of the 2003 document includes new chapters on advanced neuromonitoring and neuroimaging, as well as higher level evidence and stronger recommendations. This revision was spearheaded and supported by the Brain Trauma Foundation, with additional partial funding by the Charles Maddock Foundation...

Congress Plenary Session Videos Available

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:22:45 -0600

The 41st Critical Care Congress came to a successful conclusion last Wednesday. If you missed some of the most popular sessions and addresses, or wish to see them again, visit www.sccm.org/CCC41. Videos showcasing each of the plenary sessions are available, as well as the presidential address from Clifford S. Deutschman, MD, MS, FCCM. In addition, a video highlighting the many accomplishments of Society founder Max Harry Weil, MD, PhD, ScD (Hon), MCCM, is available. Dr. Weil passed away in August and the video was a fitting tribute to his legacy; a compilation of pictures and personal messages from members of the critical care community also was presented to the Weil family...

Webcast Series Addresses Oxygenation in Pediatric Patients

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:22:26 -0600

Oxygen therapy is the most important aspect of supportive care in the management of pediatric patients. Knowledge of the complex array of options influencing oxygenation is crucial to the outcomes of critically ill and injured children. Please join us for the first webcast in a newly developed pediatric series addressing standards of practice for oxygen monitoring, transfusions and ventilation treatments. The Society of Critical Care Medicine's (SCCM) March 12 webcast, The Pediatric Oxygen Series, Session 1: Getting Oxygen In, will present state-of-the-art noninvasive and invasive strategies for the treatment of hypoxemic respiratory insufficiency and failure in children...

Building a Palliative Care Program

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:22:06 -0600

The number of U.S. hospitals offering palliative care services is growing rapidly. According to research reports, the number of palliative care teams within hospital settings has increased approximately 138%, from about 600 in 2000 to more than 1,500 today. Palliative care programs link diverse hospital departments and services with effective and efficient use of hospital resources. This approach results in high quality, well-planned treatment that anticipates future care needs. The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) upcoming March 22 webcast, Making a Business Case for an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Palliative Care Service, will present information on the importance of ICU palliative care services in hospitals. In addition, strategies for incorporating palliative care professionals will be discussed...

There is Still Time to Register for the 2012 MCCKAP Exam

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:21:41 -0600

Rush registration will be accepted until Friday, March 9, 2012, for the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) 2012 Multidisciplinary Critical Care Knowledge Assessment Program (MCCKAP), to be administered exclusively online March 1 to 11, 2012. MCCKAP is among the most comprehensive methods for determining the strengths and weaknesses of critical care fellowship program participants. Available in both adult and pediatric formats and based on national standards, MCCKAP consists of approximately 200 multiple-choice questions pertaining to critical care knowledge and patient management. Immediate preliminary scores and analysis are available to the examinee and the corresponding program director upon completion of the test...

Early Registration for Sepsis Conference Ends Soon

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:21:21 -0600

Take advantage of discounted registration rates for the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) latest conference in the Clinical Focus series, Sepsis-Related Respiratory Failure. The deadline to register at early-bird rates is Thursday, February 29, 2012. Data suggest that the incidence of severe sepsis, given the aging population of North America, will double over the next 25 or 30 years, resulting in enormous implications for resource allocation and utilization. During this two-day conference, a team of multiprofessional experts will provide effective strategies for developing, implementing and performing protocols for managing the condition. The latest research and information about the new 2012 sepsis guidelines and bundles will be featured...

Prone vs. Supine Positioning in ARDS: Long-Term Outcomes

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:13:56 -0600

Despite advances in mechanical ventilation and critical care, the mortality rate for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains over 40%. In addition to mortality, health-related quality of life (HRQL) is also thought to be impacted negatively. Prone positioning has been used in ARDS to attenuate lung injury and to provide a more homogeneous distribution of stress and strain in the injured lung. In this month’s issue of Intensive Care Medicine, Chiumello et al published an observational prospective study to evaluate the quality of life and pulmonary function at 12 months in patients ventilated with prone versus supine positioning...

Read Critical Care Medicine on Your iPad

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:13:35 -0600

You can now enjoy Critical Care Medicine on your iPad! Read the official journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine whenever and wherever it’s convenient for you. This dynamic app offers you a print-like reading experience plus article-sharing features, website links and more...

Free Webcasts Offer CE Credit

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:13:19 -0600

Last year's Critical Care Congress featured several Breakfast Symposia, sponsored sessions that tackled the hottest topics in the field. These presentations now are available as webcasts, most offering continuing education credit...

Manage Acute Sepsis-Induced Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:12:53 -0600

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common and severe form of acute lung injury (ALI), resulting from both direct and indirect pulmonary insults (e.g., sepsis). It is a common cause of admission to the intensive care unit due to hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Advance your understanding of sepsis-induced hypoxemic respiratory failure at the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) latest conference in the Clinical Focus series, Sepsis-Related Respiratory Failure, to be held April 26 and 27, 2012, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA...

Overtreatment of Enterococcal Bacteriuria

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:22:31 -0600

Enterococci are an increasingly common cause of urinary tract infections (UTI) and asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) in hospitalized patients. Despite the publication of guidelines for appropriate antibiotic use, many patients are inappropriately prescribed antimicrobials for ABU. In this month’s issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, Lin et al conducted a retrospective medical record review from two academic teaching hospitals. The authors sought to describe clinical outcomes when Enterococcus was found in the urine, and to investigate the incidence of inappropriate treatment for enterococcal ABU. The analysis included 339 episodes of enterococcal bacteriuria, of which 183 cases (54%) were ABU and 156 (46%) were UTI. Patients with UTI were statistically significantly more likely to have higher bacterial counts, pyuria, hematuria, presence of an indwelling catheter, and neutropenia. Sixty of the 183 patients with ABU (32.8%) were inappropriately given antibiotics. Twenty-three of 156 patients with UTI (14.7%) were inappropriately undertreated (no antibiotics given). In this study, a significant number of patients were both under- and over-treated. Moreover, the class of antibiotics most commonly prescribed – quinolones – is known to have limited activity against enterococci. Both the authors and the invited commentators conclude that, due to the rarity of infectious complications associated with Enterococcus, ABU ought not to be treated. The results from this study support current efforts to curtail inappropriate antimicrobial use through stewardship programs, focused antimicrobial use campaigns and mindful practice...

SCCM Releases Position Statement on Drug Shortages

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:22:11 -0600

Drug shortages continue to pose a threat to healthcare quality and safety in intensive care patients. Shortages have been rising steadily throughout the last decade, reaching to more than 200 various drugs in 2011. In a national survey of more than 1,800 healthcare practitioners, more than 1,000 errors and adverse patient outcomes were described secondary to shortages over the past year. The Society of Critical Care Medicine has released a position statement addressing the shortage, outlining its effect on acute care and expressing urgency in coordinating solutions. “Considerations include evaluation of the drug supply and need for centralization, convening workgroups to establish conservation and allocation strategies, determining therapeutic alternatives, communicating with healthcare providers, and providing education. Existing order sets, protocols and technology, such as bar coding and computerized prescribing systems, may need to be updated,” according to the statement. Among other recommendations, the Society expressed its support of the Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medication Act, which would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration improved capability to prevent shortages...

January PCCM Supplement Offers Guidelines for Severe TBI

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:21:51 -0600

The second edition of Guidelines for the Acute Medical Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Infants, Children, and Adolescents is now available as a supplement to the January issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. In this update of the 2003 document, the guidelines committee maintained its commitment to produce evidence-based recommendations by applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. The guidelines have been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics-Section on Neurological Surgery, American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Child Neurology Society, European Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Neurocritical Care Society, Pediatric Neurocritical Care Research Group, Society of Critical Care Medicine, The Paediatric Intensive Care Society (UK), Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care, and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies. The entire guideline document is freely available via open access, thanks to funding provided by the Brain Trauma Foundation and partial funding from the Charles Maddock Foundation...

Industry Education at Congress

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:21:28 -0600

Each year, industry partners invest significant resources in research and development, and stand at the cutting-edge of clinical practice to keep you informed on the latest groundbreaking news in critical care. During the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) 41st Critical Care Congress, these partners will share their insights with attendees through non-CME education. Promotional Symposia, which are non-CME programs directly sponsored by industry partners, provide insight into the latest developments affecting intensive care units (ICUs). These symposia feature topics such as Covidien’s, Functional Hemodynamics: Strategies for Optimizing Fluid Management in the Critically Ill, which will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2012, before the Congress educational program begins. Promotional Symposia takes place in a relaxed setting off site, and are free to attend unless otherwise specified...

Congress Symposium Addresses Sodium Challenges

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:21:08 -0600

Gain a better understanding of sodium challenges and discuss strategies for management in the critical care patient during the breakfast symposium, Sodium Challenges in the Critical Care Patient, supported by an educational grant from Otsuka...

Clinical Focus to Address Sepsis-Related Respiratory Failure

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:20:44 -0600

There are 750,000 cases of severe sepsis every year in North America, of which nearly 50% develop acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Advance your understanding of sepsis-related respiratory failure and gain effective strategies for developing, implementing and executing protocols for managing the condition. Attend the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) latest conference in the Clinical Focus series, Sepsis-Related Respiratory Failure, to be held April 26 and 27, 2012, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. A multiprofessional team of experts will discuss the new 2012 sepsis guidelines and bundles, and will provide the latest research and information about sepsis-related respiratory failure...

Liberal vs. Restrictive Transfusion for High-Risk Patients

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:07:50 -0600

The threshold at which postoperative red blood cell transfusion is warranted for patients with cardiac disease remains controversial. While the hazards associated with transfusions are well known to the modern-day intensivist, some have proposed that transfusions improve functional recovery for elderly surgical patients, and prevent cardiovascular events. Jeffrey Carson, MD, and the Functional Outcomes in Cardiovascular Patients Undergoing Surgical Hip Repair (FOCUS) investigators conducted a randomized trial to test the hypothesis that morbidity and mortality rates would be reduced when high-risk surgical patients (elective hip surgery) were transfused to a hemoglobin level of 10 g/dL (liberal strategy group) versus 8 g/dL (restrictive strategy group)...

SCCM Liaison Reflects on Work of the HQA

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:07:32 -0600

In December, the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) concluded its efforts to advance public reporting for hospital care. Ivor S. Douglas, MD, was a liaison to the HQA for the Society of Critical Care Medicine and shares the accomplishments of the group as well as future endeavors of the SCCM Advocacy Committee...

LearnICU.org Resource Update

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:07:11 -0600

LearnICU.org, the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s premiere website for critical care resources, is updated daily with content from the Society’s activities as well as from individual users. With 24 Knowledge Lines to sort information by category and access to Web-based courses, all critical care practitioners should bookmark this site and check back for regular updates. Among the user-contributed items added recently...

Receive Safety Info Faster With Electronic Drug Alerts

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:06:47 -0600

PDR Drug Alerts offer immediate, electronic delivery of any alerts and safety information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Society of Critical Care Medicine is proud to offer its members this complimentary service. PDR® Network continues to enhance its PDR Drug Information Service to offer greater value to clients by providing expanded services, such as weekly updates to reflect labeling changes and continuing medical education for reviewing labeling and drug alerts. With 10 million alerts delivered, PDR® Network is the leading provider of electronic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) and drug alert distribution to an opt-in network of more than 400,000 prescribers...

Telemedicine in the ICU

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:06:29 -0600

Between 10% and 20% of all hospital beds are devoted to critical care, accounting for 30% of overall acute care hospital costs. Those costs are expected to increase as the U.S. population ages and illnesses become increasingly complex. At the same time, the nation faces a growing shortage of critical care physicians and nurses, and the demand for intensivists outstrips the supply. Telemedicine offers a solution to this problem by enabling a relatively small number of intensivists to oversee the care of a large number of intensive care unit (ICU) patients...

Carry the Entire Congress Program in the Palm of Your Hand

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:06:06 -0600

Get ready for the 41st Critical Care Congress by downloading the Congress App to access the complete schedule of events and other valuable information. Point your mobile browser to www.sccm.org/ccc41app to access. With apps designed specifically for the iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry, the Congress App offers a convenient way to access comprehensive Congress information...

Increased Mortality When Thromboprophylaxis Not Used

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:05:00 -0600

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the costliest and most common preventable causes of death in the intensive care unit (ICU). In this month’s issue of Chest, Kwok Ho and colleagues utilized data from 134 ICUs in Australia and New Zealand to assess the association between omission of early thromboprophylaxis (>24 hours) after ICU admission and mortality. This retrospective cohort included 175,665 patients. Omission of thromboprophylaxis occurred in 27,890 patients (15.9%), and was associated with an unadjusted mortality of 7.6%. When the investigators adjusted for other covariates with generalized estimating equations and logistic regression, the odds of death were statistically significantly greater for patients who did not have thromboprophylaxis within 24 hours...

CCSC Launches New Website

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:04:38 -0600

The Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC) is pleased to unveil its new website www.ccsconline.org, which will showcase more than a decade of the group’s achievements and its ongoing efforts to advance the field of critical care. The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), along with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Thoracic Society, is proud to be a member of this unique collaboration. With a combined membership of nearly 150,000 critical care professionals, the CCSC leverages its expertise through advocacy, education, research and community to ensure excellent care for all critically ill and injured patients and their families...

Is Your ICU Focused on Early Mobility?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:04:22 -0600

The Paragon Critical Care Quality Implementation Program has boasted numerous successes in its mission to help intensive care unit teams improve quality through peer-to-peer coaching. Paragon has expanded its scope, now offering single-day site visits aimed at mobility coaching. The Paragon team will include physical/occupational therapists and a critical care pharmacist or physician who will assist with pain/agitation/delirium protocols...

Carry the Entire Congress Program in the Palm of Your Hand

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:03:58 -0600

Telemedicine in the ICU

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:03:41 -0600

Discover Clinical Breakthroughs During Congress

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:23:57 -0600

Bring the latest critical care knowledge back to your intensive care unit by attending the Society of Critical Care Medicines (SCCM) 41st Critical Care Congress. Learn about new developments and tools to help expand your knowledge and advance your practice of critical care.

Fundamental Ultrasound Course Will Advance Your Knowledge

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:22:44 -0600

Ultrasound imaging enhances the practitioner's ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat critical care patients. Additional benefits of focused bedside ultrasound include its portability, accuracy, real-time visualization, and efficacy in various procedures in the intensive care unit setting. Receive the latest ultrasound information and training during the Society of Critical Care Medicines (SCCM) innovative course, Fundamentals of Critical Care Ultrasound, to be held February 3 and 4, 2012, at the Hilton Americas-Houston, in Houston, Texas, USA.

Awards Recognize Best Practices in Reducing HAIs

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:22:22 -0600

Critical care professionals and healthcare institutions with a record of reducing and eliminating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are encouraged to submit their best practices to a national awards program, sponsored by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Critical Care Societies Collaborative.

SCCM Celebrates Master Critical Care Medicine Fellows

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:11:35 -0600

Congratulations to the Society of Critical Care Medicines (SCCM) first Master Critical Care Medicine (MCCM) Fellows, who will be awarded the distinguished designation during the 41st Critical Care Congress, in Houston, Texas, USA.

New-Onset AF with Sepsis Associated with Worse Outcomes?

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:10:17 -0600

New-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) is a recognized complication of severe sepsis and may be associated with adverse outcomes such as stroke or death. In this months issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Walkey et al investigated the association of severe sepsis and new-onset AF with the adverse outcomes of in-hospital mortality and in-hospital ischemic stroke.

Prevention of VAP with Oral Antiseptics

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:33:48 -0600

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) poses a significant patient safety threat for intensive care unit (ICU) patients and has attributable mortality rates that may exceed 50%. In the November issue of Lancet Infectious Diseases, Sonia Labeau, MD, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether oral care with chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine (experimental; antiseptic group) reduced the occurrence of VAP compared with absence of oral care, or oral care with other products (control)...

Recommendations for Pediatric Mass Critical Care

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:33:29 -0600

The Pediatric Emergency Mass Critical Care Task Force has proposed pediatric-specific recommendations to extend critical care resources in disaster situations in a supplement to the November 2011 issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, now available in print and online (open access). The task force, a multiprofessional body representing various national and international critical and emergency care organizations, based these recommendations on an exhaustive search of the literature, bibliographies, government planning documents, and reports of local, state, and federal working groups...

First FCCS, PFCCS Courses in Haiti Part of a Long-Term Mission

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:33:10 -0600

Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) and Pediatric Fundamental Critical Care Support (PFCCS) courses are emerging as effective education tools in Haiti. Organized with the help of M.J. Reed, MD, FCCM, the countryâs first FCCS course was held this month, training 12 intern-level residents on how to provide basic critical care services in the absence of an intensivist. A PFCCS course, to be led by Louisdon Pierre, MD, is planned for January 2012. Although these are the first courses to be held in Haiti, the program was instrumental during the disaster response following the 2010 earthquake. The Society of Critical Care Medicine held two courses in the Dominican Republic to help medical personnel manage the overflow of critically ill and injured patients from across the Haitian border...

Acquire the Fundamentals with SCCM's Ultrasound Course

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:32:45 -0600

Ultrasonography has become an invaluable tool in the management of critically ill and injured patients due to its portability, ease of use and accurate evaluation. Ultrasound also is relatively inexpensive and presents little threat to patients and practitioners. With demand for ultrasound on the rise and developments in technology, it is imperative that critical care practitioners stay up to date in this advanced modality. The Society of Critical Care Medicineâs (SCCM) innovative course, Fundamentals of Critical Care Ultrasound, to be held February 3 and 4, 2012, at the Hilton Americas-Houston in Houston, Texas, USA, will provide participants with the latest ultrasound information available...

Discounted Registration for Critical Care Congress Ends Soon

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:32:25 -0600

Take advantage of discounted registration rates for the Society of Critical Care Medicineâs (SCCM) 41st Critical Care Congress, to be held February 4 to 8, 2012, in Houston, Texas, USA. The deadline to register at early-bird rates is November 30, 2011. Bring the latest critical care knowledge back to your intensive care unit. Donât miss the valuable educational curriculum at this event, which will include cutting-edge educational sessions, hands-on workshops, thought-provoking symposia, and popular plenary sessions promoting innovative developments in critical care. Plenary sessions are given by distinguished, world-renowned leaders in the critical care field...

The Effects of Restricting Chloride-Rich Fluids in the Critically ill

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 08:42:59 -0600

Supraphysiological concentrations of sodium and chloride are present in routinely used intravenous fluids. It is widely understood that the use of 0.9% saline and other chloride-rich solutions in critically ill patients causes metabolic acidosis, decreases the strong ion difference and may lead to worse outcomes. In this monthâs issue of Critical Care Medicine, Norâazim Mohd Yunos, MD, and colleagues from Melbourne, Australia, conducted a prospective, open-label, before-and-after study to investigate the biochemical effects when chloride-rich solutions such as 0.9% saline, Gelofusine or Albumex 4 are restricted. Authors concluded that restriction of chloride-rich solutions was associated with a significant decease in the incidence of metabolic acidosis, hypernatremia and severe hyperchloremia; however, the incidence of metabolic alkalosis was increased...

Drug Shortages Addressed on National Level

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 08:42:40 -0600

The Society of Critical Care Medicineâs (SCCM) Advocacy Committee has been engaged in several activities surrounding drug shortages. This week, U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order calling for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Justice to broaden reporting of potential drug shortages, expedite regulatory reviews that can help prevent shortages, and examine whether potential shortages have led to price gouging. According to The Wall Street Journal, the FDA reported a record 178 drug shortages in 2010 and has said the number of shortages is greater so far this year. Most of the shortages have involved injectable agents commonly used in the intensive care unit, such as anti-infectives, cardiovascular agents and drugs influencing the central nervous system. Notable agents with shortages in the past year have included propofol, thiopental, succinylcholine, vecuronium, nicardipine, 23.4% sodium chloride, fosphenytoin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, ephedrine, neostigmine, amikacin, intravenous trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and foscarnet...

Programs Help Teams Achieve, Be Recognized for Quality

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 08:42:19 -0600

The Society of Critical Care Medicine would like to highlight two key opportunities for its members related to quality improvement. Innovation Advisors Program The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Servicesâ Innovation Advisors Program (IAP) is offering a free training program to help individuals refine, apply and sustain managerial and technical skills necessary to drive delivery system reform. An Innovation Advisorâs home organization or group will be eligible to receive a stipend of up to $20,000, which will be used to support the program activities, including travel of the selected individual to serve as an Innovation Advisor. The program will inspire dedicated, skilled individuals in the healthcare system to deepen several key skill sets, including: healthcare economics, finance, population health, systems analysis, and operations research...