A 19-year-old woman with intracranial hemorrhage and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates

A 19-year-old woman with intracranial hemorrhage and diffuse pulmonary infiltrates. CHEST October 2010 vol. 138(4), p. 1014-1017.

Liu, Z., et al.

http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/138/4/1014.full.pdf+html

A 19-year-old, previously healthy woman presented with a sudden onset of headache and an altered mental status. Her vital signs were stable, and physical examinations were significant only for an expressive aphasia and a defect in her visual fi eld. A head CT scan revealed a left temporoparietal intracerebral hemorrhage. While she was monitored in the ICU, her symptoms improved. About 24 h later, her headache suddenly worsened, and she quickly lost consciousness. Case Report.

Alcohol-use disorder in the critically ill patient

Alcohol-use disorder in the critically ill patient. CHEST October 2010 vol. 138(4), p. 994-1003.

de Wit, M., et al.

http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/138/4/994.full

This review discusses the development and progression of critical illness in patients with AUDs. AUDs are linked to not only a higher likelihood of community-acquired pneumonia and sepsis but also a higher severity of illness and higher rates of nosocomial pneumonia and sepsis. The management of sedation in patients with AUDs may be particularly challenging because of the increased need for sedatives and opioids and the difficulty in diagnosing withdrawal syndrome. The health-care provider also must be watchful for the development of dangerous agitation and violence, as these problems are not uncommonly seen in hospital ICUs.

Less obvious predictors of post-ICU informal caregiver burden

Less obvious predictors of post-ICU informal caregiver burden. CHEST October 2010 Vol. 138(4), p. 1024.

Kulkarni, H.S.

http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/138/4/1024.1.full.pdf+html

Follow up to the study by Van Pelt et al on the effect of critical illness felt by patients' families.