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Tom, one of my colleagues from the Critical Care Outreach Team and I discuss this paper and its findings reaching our own conclusions. Deferring Arterial Catheterisation in Patients with Septic Shock. The post Arterial Lines: Do we always need them. A chat with Tom (Duracell Bunny) appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

We return to our 48-year-old patient: jaundiced, hypotensive, drowsy, and bleeding. In decompensated cirrhosis, every treatment targets a disrupted system — splanchnic vasodilation, portal hypertension, toxin accumulation, and renal hypoperfusion.Although these patients look fluid overloaded, they are effectively hypovolaemic. Start with small aliquots of balanced crystalloid, avoiding 0.9% saline. In hepatorenal syndrome or tense ascites, 20% albumin is […] The post Decompensated Alcohol Related Liver Disease Part 2 appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

In this episode, I walk through the real-world critical care management of acute decompensated alcohol-related liver disease, using a high-risk ICU case to anchor the discussion. The focus is on understanding the underlying physiology—portal hypertension, rebalanced haemostasis, hepatic encephalopathy, infection, and hepatorenal syndrome—and translating that physiology into clear first-hour priorities at the bedside.  Listeners are […] The post Decompensated Alcohol Related Liver Disease appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

This episode offers a structured, bedside-focused exploration of Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) for acute hypercapnic respiratory failure in COPD, aligned with NICE NG115 and BTS/ICS 2016 guidance. Aimed at early-career critical care nurses, it breaks the topic down into physiology, practical setup, monitoring, and escalation.Key Topics CoveredMechanisms behind acute-on-chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure in COPD.How NIV improves […] The post Non Invasive Ventilation appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

HHS (Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State) is the quiet counterpart to DKA. It develops slowly in older type 2 diabetics with residual insulin, leading to extreme hyperglycaemia and dehydration without ketosis. In this 2-hour deep dive, Jonathan explains why HHS kills through water loss and hyperviscosity rather than acid, and how to manage it safely.Key Learning Points:·         Pathophysiology: Relative […] The post HHS (Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic State) appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

The post DKA- Fluids, Potassium and Insulin appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

Summary:In this episode, we spotlight a stealthy ICU disruptor — hypophosphataemia. Based on a 2024 narrative review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, we explore why phosphate matters, how it goes missing in critically ill patients, and why you should care even when it’s just “a little low.”What’s Covered:The vital role of phosphate in energy, […] The post Hypophosphatemia in Critical Care appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

The post DKA in Critical Care appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

Mobilisation in the ICU raises two big questions: is it safe, and will staff embrace it?In this discussion, Jonathan explores both sides of the story:Safety first:Large prevalence studies show mobilisation is happening, though often inconsistently.A systematic review of 1,800+ sessions found serious adverse events in only 0.6% — most minor and short-lived.Even patients on CRRT can safely mobilise […] The post Mobilisation in Critical Care- Barriers and Culture appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

SummaryFor much of critical care history, immobility was the norm: patients were sedated, kept still, and “protected.” But decades of research have revealed the hidden costs — profound muscle wasting, delirium, and long-term disability.Jonathan explores how our understanding of mobilisation in ICU has evolved — from the recognition of harm caused by bedrest, to the […] The post Episode 1- Mobilisation in the ICU appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

Sedation practices in the ICU have evolved dramatically over the past decade — but are we truly following the evidence?In this episode of The Critical Care Practitioner Podcast, Jonathan takes you through the key milestones in sedation guidance, the persistent gap between recommendations and real-world practice, and the emerging shift toward human-centered, wakeful care.What You’ll […] The post Episode 6: Guidelines and the Future of Sedation in Critical Care appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

OverviewIn this episode we explore the three main sedatives used in critical care and how to choose the right agent for the right patient.HighlightsBenzodiazepines: once the workhorse of ICU sedation, but now linked to more delirium and longer ventilation. Still useful in alcohol withdrawal and seizures.Propofol: rapid on/off, easy to titrate, helpful for daily sedation […] The post Episode 5 — Sedation Choices: Benzos, Propofol, Dexmedetomidine appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

The post Episode 4: Sedation Protocols – Turning Knowledge into Practice appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

The post Episode 3: Sedation Depth Why going too deep can hurt. appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.

In this episode, I explore the origins and evolution of the daily sedation hold — also known as the spontaneous awakening trial (SAT) — one of the most influential shifts in ICU sedation practice.I unpack the key trials that demonstrated SATs could safely reduce ventilation time and ICU stay, and examines how these findings became standard care. But it's […] The post CCP Podcast: Episode 2 The sedation hold game changer or risky routine? appeared first on Critical Care Practitioner.