Here is a compilation of some of the major trials in 2017 for ICU. 

You can see many of them in the HOT ARTICLES section of the phenomenal CriticalCareReviews.com

You can see many of them reviewed on www.TheBottomLine.org.uk as well as our partner website www.CriticalCareNorthampton.com

The references for all of these trials can be found in the various months here or via a quick google search.

We encourage you ALL to read the trials and decide for yourself - these are not individual reviews and merely summarise what the authors themselves have stated in their trial. The idea of infographics like this is, that via a quick read, you can identify some good #FOAMed articles that may peak your interest and you can explore them further. They also serve as good reminders to what goes on in a busy academic year.

Enjoy! 

PDF FILES: 
(Please print out the document without alterations - keeping the websites etc on the page)

I was delighted when TheBottomLine did a best of the best review of their ICU trial summaries this year.

I have collated them below in an infographic. You have to check out their website to have a good look at all of the tremendous work they've done in more detail! CLICK HERE

Merry Xmas & Happy New Year!

Click HERE to see full infogram

NB: Regional techniques offer high levels of non-narcotising pain relief, such as intercostal blocks and s.anterior blocks +- catheters. (You will all know I am an advocate of the CERTA concept of pain relief, with non-opioids and RA techniques used whenever possible). With all the best will in the world, it is hard to find a trained individual to site or perform such regional techniques in an acute setting 24/7 and in a timely fashion, let alone have a service on the ward that is happy to look after different pumps/complications/troubleshooting etc. This is why this guide will focus on pharmacological management +- Thoracic Epidural where indicated/available. It is also worth noting that non-catheter blocks wear off at various rates depending on local analgesia used, so you still need to be aware of pharmacological management and the step-wise pain pathways. Should 24/7, quick-access Regional Anaesthesia be available in your hospital; this is a great asset and should be used in conjunction with your own local policies.

Rib fractures can be difficult to manage with respect to adequate pain relief and maximised chest safety. There is a high risk, in more complex fractures, of pneumothorax, haemopneumothorax, flail chest and great vessel injury. One of the most significant  problems to prevent, (after PTX etc) is the acquisition of an atelectasis induced chest infection, particularly in those with concomitant chest disease and advancing age. You must be able to rapidly and safely control pain levels.

We also know that a lot of patients can be managed on the ward with good nursing, physiotherapy and analgesia and that many are not admitted to ICU. It is worth noting that an HDU/ICU admission may be required if pain is not controlled and breathing becomes an issue - you should involve the pain and ICU teams early, but this should not substitute or preclude the admitting team & ED actively trying to control pain using the algorithm above. It will be useful to the acute pain teams to see which, if any, analgesia worked.

All patients with rib fractures may not be admitted, but those who are sore enough to should have basic care (mentioned in the infograph) commenced IMMEDIATELY in A&E.

Good regimes of escalating pain regimes must be in place from A&E and admission teams and NOT just wait for a pain team review, which can be after a busy weekend or the next working day. 

It may be nice to allow all patients to have a thoracic epidural sited, but this is not pragmatic in a busy NHS hospital; it will often be the next day or 'after the weekend'. They are also not required for every rib fracture patient. NEVERTHELESS, thoracic epidurals DO have benefit for those who have complex disease processes, fractures and advancing age. They probably should not be inserted due to inadequate attempts to control pain with more conventional pharmacological methods in most patient groups.

Surgical wards are used to dealing with PCA's so they often become the first stop of acute pain management. Wards are often not set up to facilitate IV lignocaine/ketamine infusions; if your wards are - you should contact your local pain team to see whether these interventions might be utilised in your place of ward in lieu of a morphine PCA.  Do not forget to write up emergency naloxone if using opioids alongside an anti-emetic regime.

Here is the best BJA Education Article for scoring rib fractures with advice on pharmacy etc.

A final note on pharmacy; PLEASE check the BNF for contraindications of medications in your patient. Renal function is also important with respect to opioids, NSAIDs and Gabapentin etc.

​

FULLSCREEN

Above is a 'cheat sheet' or, full data list for the sympathomimetics commonly encountered in medicine, particularly anaesthetics, ICU and emergency medicine. Broadly divided out into alpha, beta, dopamine agonists and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. It is key to understand the actions that each receptor causes; there is often overlap. There is a PDF above for a HD copy of the sheet.

Melatonin - considered by some to be a 'herbal myth' and others as a useful adjunct to help sleep in ICU patient and adults >55 years old. There is biological plausibility that melatonin could be a useful adjunct to aid restful and efficient sleep in those who could be deplete in melatonin. 

Overall - a meta-analysis here in 2013 showed that there was some evidence to say that it could work in some cohorts. Given its relatively safe profile, it could be useful to trial in patients with a sleep disorder. Particularly it could be of use in ICU, but, the evidence is currently out - awaiting a larger RCT. It's a cheap drug and even cheaper in the USA where it is available OTC. In patients who are restless or unable to sleep in a busy ICU, perhaps it has a role in being a first drug of choice before considering more 'heavy' sedative alternatives given it is a non-narcotic. 

The studies mentioned below are indeed rather small and a few are single-centre analyses, so we cannot say for certain whether there is true efficacy, but many practitioners would agree, it's certainly worth a go providing there are no obvious contraindications in your local formulary (primarily, not to use in patients with autoimmune conditions) and the person does not require heavy sedation for other reasons.

Outside ICU, the drug is quite popular with GP's and could even be used more frequently as a first line alternative to Z-drugs or benzodiazepines in a hospital cohort. Sleep deprivation, it will come as no surprise, is rife in hospitals - I think we can all agree, that any adjunct to promote restful sleep without being profoundly 'sedating' could be a useful drug. I look forward to seeing more definitive studies in the future.

FULLSCREEN

FULLSCREEN

FULLSCREEN

 Dr. Sergey Motov (USA Emergency Medicine) & Dr. David Lyness (UK/IRE Anaesthetics)
Originally put on this website in July 2016
​
Taken from Dr Motov's work on a CERTA regime.
This is published in conjunction with the CERTA concept explanation here. 
We can all provide superior analgesia by using medication and techniques other than just opioid medications.
This is NOT a definitive list and in all cases, local policies and protocols should be followed. Check your local formularies.
This is NOT a prescribing guideline - it is for information ONLY.

We do not dispute the role of opioids in many spheres of practice, including emergency medicine, ICU and anaesthetics, rather we wish to highlight the pandemic of high opioid and opiate use. There are many medications available to reduce the amount of opioids used.
​
You may find, when considering  your analgesia regimes that opioids are not always  the best options for emergency pain issues.
We would advocate the use of nerve blocks in the first instance to control acute pain, when feasible. 

1. Consider the use of PPI's when using NSAID drugs.
2. Caution with using NSAIDs where surgery could be imminent.

With respect to alternatives listed for non-radicular back pain, it has been brought to our attention that a new study was presented in 2017 which showed that "diazepam has no benefit when added to naproxen vs placebo" in acute low back pain. See here.

This document is for review in 2018 - so please contact us if you have anything to add!

FULLSCREEN 
​References in document below...

FULLSCREEN

FULLSCREEN

I have collaborated with Dr. Sergey Motov from New York, USA to bring a series of infographs on a great new concept of CERTA pain relief with the hope of reducing opiate use. This is the latest line in thinking about MULTI MODAL pain relief and characterises the ideas behind multiple analgesic combinations to reduce pain, reduce sedation and provide maximal analgesia to patients in acute pain. Part one below describes the MAIN concepts of CERTA. It should be food for thought to all...

Channels, Enzymes, Receptor Targeted Action!

FULLSCREEN

FULLSCREEN

FULLSCREEN

FULLSCREEN

FULLSCREEN

FULLSCREEN

FULLSCREEN

FULLSCREEN & LINKS

FULLSCREEN

Another interesting infogram by Mr. Brad Gander (@BG_999_)
See the full ACLS Medical Training article here! 

FULLSCREEN

This was made as an A4 PDF sized infogram which can be downloaded below.
​If the graphic is taking too long to view, it can also be seen below as a PDF.

FULLSCREEN

FULLSCREEN