Shock Value
This type of shock presents with warm extremities early on, unlike the other shock types.
Distributive shock
This category of sepsis no longer exists, but it sure is stubbornly omnipresent.
Severe sepsis
These two ventilator settings impact oxygenation.
PEEP and FiO2
This bacteria should be considered for post-influenza PNA and skin/soft tissue infection patients.
What is MRSA?
These 4 criteria must be met to diagnose ARDS.
Berlin Criteria: 1 week since insult, bilateral lung opacities, Non-cardiogenic edema, low P/F ratio
A patient in shock has an elevated CVP, clear lungs, and distended neck veins — this largely rules out this common shock category.
Hypovolemic shock
This vasopressor has highest empirical support in treating septic shock.
Norepinephrine (aka Levophed/Levo)
This number represents the generated pressure gradient promoting air movement on BiPAP.
Delta Pressure (aka Driving Pressure)
Reach for this class of antibiotics when treating community-acquired pneumonia.
What are macrolides or fluoroquinolones?
This pressure represents alveolar pressure and is performed during an inspiratory hold.
Plateau pressure
This hemodynamic pattern — low cardiac output, high SVR, high filling pressures — should make you suspect this etiology of shock
Cardiogenic shock
This is a reasonable (though over-generalized) fluid bolus for a septic patient.
30cc/kg crystalloid
This ventilator mode can be used as a Spontaneous Breathing Trial, assessing readiness for extubation.
Pressure Support Ventilation
Anaerobes stand no chance against these antibiotics.
Metronidazole (Flagyl), piperacillin-tazobactam (Zosyn), carbapenems
This histologic hallmark of ARDS is marked by fluid filled, collapsed alveoli.
Diffuse Alveolar Damage
Muffled heart sounds, elevated JVD, and hypotension should clue you in to this type of shock due to this pathology.
Obstructive shock due to cardiac tamponade
A septic patient remains hypotensive despite adequate fluids and norepinephrine at a high dose; this adjunct is added next given a suspected relative deficiency.
Stress Dose Steroids / hydrocortisone
This mode of ventilation was abandoned due to patient-ventilator dysynchrony.
Intermittent mandatory ventilation
Despite empiric Vancomycin + Zosyn, an occult infection persists, thus leading you to add this other drug.
Anti-fungal (fluconazole, micafungin, caspofungin)
Other than ventilator management, therapy is one of the few ARDS interventions with clear mortality benefit.
Prone positioning
This medication has pure alpha-1 receptor agonism and risks reflexive bradycardia.
Phenylephrine
Derangements in these organ systems may earn a point on the sequential organ failure assessment scale.
Respiration, coagulation, liver, cardiovascular, CNS, renal
These are complications of mechanical ventilation related to the endotracheal tube itself.
Laryngeal injury, tracheal stenosis, tracheomalacia, tracheo-innominate artery fistula, tracheo-esophageal fistula
Despite broad antimicrobial coverage, occult infection persists, and thus these diagnostics may be warranted.
CT scan, echocardiogram, lumbar puncture, surgical wound re-exploration/washout
Only 20-30% of ARDS patient develop this unfortunate phase of disease, marked by honeycombing, decreased compliance, and pulmonary hypertension.
Fibrotic phase