Critical Care Alert – August 1, 2023

Videolaryngoscopy for Intubation of Critically Ill Patients

In a large, prospective, multicenter, randomized, pragmatic trial, the use of a video laryngoscope resulted in a higher incidence of successful intubation on the first attempt on critically ill patients in the emergency department and intensive care unit compared to the use of the direct laryngoscope.

Older ICU Survivors Often Receive New and Persistent Prescriptions for Sedatives After Discharge

In this population-based cohort study of older intensive care unit survivors, one in 15 of them received a new prescription for a sedative within a week of discharge, and more than half had recurrent prescriptions.

Effectiveness of Aerosolized Bronchodilators in Patients Receiving High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy

In a prospective, single-center study, bronchodilators delivered in line with a high-flow nasal cannula device improved forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation.

Patient Mortality Not Linked to Intensivist Caseloads

In this retrospective cohort study in the United States from 2018-2020, there was no significant association between intensivist-to-patient ratio and patient mortality and no effect modification by having physicians-in-training, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants present.