Physical-Chemical Interpretation of the Acid-Base System The Canadian scientist Peter Stewart published his book "How to Understand Acid-Base Physiology" in 1981. In it, he presented an integrated model of how electrolytes, water balance, carbon dioxide, and proteins work together to determine acid-base balance. Over the next 20 years, a large…

Ventilator Treatment Patients who, due to lung disease or other damage to the lungs, cannot breathe adequately can be treated with a ventilator that assists with lung ventilation. The ventilator is also referred to as a respirator. Breathing occurs invasively through a closed tube system with regulated and controlled pressure…

Donation Investigation The following information is adopted after rules and procedures in Sweden according to the Swedish law. Please observe that rules and procedures may be different in different countries and should be adjusted accordingly. When a person dies in such a way that organ donation is possible, the healthcare…

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH) Background Incidence of 10 per 100,000 inhabitants/year Approximately 100 patients with SAH are treated annually at NIVA/SU ICU stay is often 7-10 days Slightly more women than men are affected by SAH The median age of onset is 50-60 years Clinical Picture Sudden onset headache, "thunderclap headache"…

Life-threatening Infections Sepsis and other severe infections mean that a serious infection affects the entire body, causing damage to vital organs such as the heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys, which may stop functioning properly. Sometimes, even a mild infection can quickly develop into a critical condition that leads to multi-organ…

ECMO - General Principles Patients whose respiration is so severely impaired that optimal ventilator support cannot maintain adequate oxygenation or carbon dioxide removal can be treated with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). On the other hand, venoarterial ECMO (VA-ECMO) helps patients whose circulation is incompatible with continued life despite maximal…

Dialysis Treatment - CRRT Acute kidney failure is a common consequence of various life-threatening conditions such as sepsis, acute liver failure, major trauma, acute pancreatitis, etc., and dialysis treatment is often administered in an intensive care unit. Acute kidney failure increases mortality in various severe conditions, and proper dialysis treatment…

Respiratory Failure and Ventilator Treatment in Severe Covid-19 Infection Disease Course in Covid-19 Infection Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) can become critically ill with acute respiratory distress that typically begins approximately one week after the onset of symptoms. Determining when a patient with severe Covid-19 should undergo endotracheal…

Checklist for ICU Rounds OverviewWhat are the current intensive care issues?Evaluation of interventions performed during the care processHistory/BackgroundOngoing and past health problems relevant to intensive care? Patient’s prior level of function.STATUSRespiration/LungsVentilator settings.Blood gases.Intubation, weaning, extubation, tracheostomyRespiratory care – interventions? Pleural drainage?CirculationVasoactive and inotropic drugs Need for extended monitoring? PiCCO? Fluid…

Status epilepticus - Treatment This document reflects current procedures for the treatment of status epilepticus and includes recommendations regarding intensive care. Background and definition Status epilepticus (SE) is a condition involving abnormally prolonged or frequently recurring seizures, which in some cases pose a risk of long-term effects.1 The overall mortality…