Lines, Tubes & Drama
This central line port is the VIP section — it gives you the best pressure readings and med infusions.
What is the distal port?
This ventilator setting is like cruise control for breaths — patient gets full support.
What is assist control?
CRRT: the slow, patient kind of dialysis, mostly used for this patient population.
What are hemodynamically unstable ICU patients?
The art line trace is flat. Before you panic, check this.
What is the line, transducer, flush, or zeroing?
This device shocks hearts and attitudes — but only if there’s a rhythm to fix.
What is the defibrillator?
You don't flush this tube unless you like calling a surgeon at 2am.
What is a chest tube?
PEEP: it's not a spring noise — it’s for this.
What is keeping alveoli open to improve oxygenation?
No blood return from a dialysis cath? Don’t even think about this.
What is flushing it without contacting dialysis?
V-tach alarm going off... but your patient is peacefully scrolling TikTok. What gives?
What is artifact or lead misplacement?
This "TV remote for your heart" paces externally, painfully, and noisily.
What is transcutaneous pacing?
This line gives you real-time BP readings — and stress if it's damping.
What is an arterial line?
High-pressure alarms mean the vent is annoyed. Name one cause.
What is coughing, kinked tubing, or secretions?
You pause CRRT for a procedure. How long before the filter throws a tantrum?
What is about 4 hours — clot city after that?
You're doing an ABG and suddenly the O2 sat says 82%. This is probably why.
What is poor perfusion or bad waveform?
Capnography in a code shows you this — and it's more reliable than your coworker’s pulse-checking skills.
What is CO₂ and perfusion?
CVP is measured through this type of line.
What is a central venous catheter?
BiPAP gives you two levels of pressure — IPAP and EPAP. What’s it trying to do?
What is improve ventilation and oxygenation?
Citrate anticoagulation in CRRT puts this lab value on your radar.
What is calcium?
You get a CVP reading of 25. Before declaring heart failure, remember to check this.
What is the transducer level at the phlebostatic axis?
You bag the patient. The CO₂ reads 12. That means:
What is poor perfusion or ineffective CPR?
You found a feeding tube in the lungs. What’s your next move (after the existential crisis)?
What is stop feeds, notify provider, and remove the tube?
You walk in and see auto-PEEP. Your vent says: “Help.” What's a fix to suggest to your RT?
What is increase expiratory time or reduce tidal volume?
Patient on CRRT gets twitchy with a prolonged QT. What lab are you checking STAT?
What is magnesium?
This waveform helps assess fluid responsiveness — if you know how to read it.
What is the arterial pressure waveform variation or pulse pressure variation?
Post-ROSC, this fancy box helps cool patients down — not for comfort, but for neuroprotection.
What is targeted temperature management [TTM] device or Arctic Sun?