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References

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Attribution: SurgCritCare handbook
Updated: 5/29/2026

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Source Material

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Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) InterpretationStepwise ABG interpretation: pH, primary disorder, compensation, oxygenation assessment, and common patterns seen in the surgical ICU.Open page Acute TBI Management — Vella 2017Acute traumatic brain injury review covering prevention of secondary injury, cerebral perfusion goals, intracranial pressure management, mass lesions, VTE prophylaxis, seizures, and nutrition.Open page Alcohol Withdrawal SyndromeAlcohol Withdrawal Syndrome overview including symptom spectrum, CIWA assessment, risk factors for AWD, and treatment principles for surgical ICU patients.Open page Analgesia & Sedation in the Surgical ICUPain, agitation, and delirium management (PADIS) in the surgical ICU: analgesia-first approach, RASS sedation targets, SAT/SBT protocols, and multimodal pain strategies.Open page Antihypertensives in the ICUSevere acute hypertension in the ICU: end-organ consequences, antihypertensive mechanisms, and special considerations for TBI and post-cardiac surgery patients.Open page ARDS — Definition, Pathophysiology & ManagementARDS primer covering definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, lung-protective ventilation, supportive management, and recovery after critical illness.Open page ARDSnet — Lower Tidal Volumes (NEJM 2000)Landmark ARDSnet trial summary covering lower tidal volume ventilation for acute lung injury and ARDS, including mortality and ventilator-free day outcomes.Open page Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) InterpretationStep-by-step ABG analysis covering oxygenation, ventilation, acid-base status, and clinical implications for SICU patients.Open page Brain Death DeterminationEducational overview of brain death clinical criteria, prerequisites, examination, apnea testing, and ancillary testing. Based on AAN guidelines. Pending institutional review.Open page Brain Death Determination — LectureDetermination of Brain Death A Little History... • Advanced cardiopulmonary support created the awareness of neurologic death • 1959 - Mollaret and Goulon published “le coma dépassé” o Foundation for understanding that...Open page Cardiac Arrest — Initial StepsInitial steps in sudden cardiac arrest: early recognition, chest compressions before code team arrival, and adherence to ACLS guidelines.Open page Cardiac Arrhythmias in the ICUClassification, risk factors, and management principles for tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias in the surgical ICU, including heart block types and antiarrhythmic drug classes.Open page Cardiovascular Physiology — Systems OverviewCore cardiovascular physiology: stroke volume, preload, afterload, cardiac output, and the Frank-Starling relationship as it applies to critically ill surgical patients.Open page Acute Cervical Spinal Cord Injury — Diagnosis & ManagementPatients with acute cervical spinal cord injury present complex clinical challenges. These injuries may result in motor and sensory deficits and also in cardiovascular and respiratory perturbations. Increased attention...Open page Clinical Responsibilities — Daily ICU ReviewDaily clinical review checklist for ICU residents: medications, radiologic studies, microbiology cultures, and care coordination with primary teams.Open page Driving Pressure & Transpulmonary PressureReview of driving pressure and transpulmonary pressure during mechanical ventilation, including strain, stress, plateau pressure, PEEP, and lung-protective ventilation concepts.Open page Elderly Rib Fracture PathwayPathway for elderly patients with rib fractures covering functional pain assessment, multimodal pain management, and mobilization protocol.Open page Encephalopathies in the Surgical ICUOverview of encephalopathies in surgical ICU patients: etiology, clinical presentation, and the two overarching treatment goals of supportive care and targeted therapy.Open page Fluid Resuscitation & HemodynamicsFluid responsiveness, static versus dynamic assessment tools, and a practical approach to tailoring resuscitation by shock physiology.Open page Heart Failure in the Surgical ICUAcute heart failure in the SICU: classification (reduced vs. preserved EF, left vs. right vs. biventricular), and treatment strategies for left and right heart failure and cardiogenic shock.Open page Arrhythmias in the ICU — Comprehensive ReviewComprehensive review of tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias in ICU patients, including risk factors, consequences, and management considerations.Open page ICU Delirium — Recognition, Prevention, and ManagementDelirium in the ICU: types (hypoactive, hyperactive, mixed), diagnosis using CAM-ICU and RASS, ABCDEF bundle, consequences, and treatment principles.Open page Inotropes & Vasopressors in ShockPractical vasopressor and inotrope comparison for shock, including adrenergic effects, dose ranges, clinical use, and shock classification.Open page Mechanical VentilationIndications for intubation, ventilator modes (AC/IMV/PSV), Highland Hospital ventilator protocol, SAT/SBT criteria, and weaning pathway.Open page Neuro Assessments & Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) description, component scoring, and application in trauma and surgical critical care.Open page Nutrition in the Critically Ill Surgical PatientOpen pageOrientation Overview — SICU RotationOverview of SICU rotation structure, team approach, open ICU model, and resident expectations.Open page Patient–Ventilator AsynchronyReview of patient-ventilator asynchrony, including clinical implications, diaphragmatic dysfunction, dyspnea, monitoring methods, and ventilator-setting strategies.Open page Respiratory Mechanics — Detailed ReviewDetailed review of respiratory mechanics monitoring during mechanical ventilation, including pressure, flow, volume, compliance, resistance, and ventilator-associated injury prevention.Open page Secondary Survey & Injury AssessmentHead-to-toe secondary survey for trauma patients: AMPLE history, systematic physical examination to identify all injuries after primary survey stabilization.Open page Severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)Guideline-supported educational overview of severe TBI management including initial stabilization, ICP management, and neuroprotective care.Open page Severe TBI Management — Lecture NotesSevere TBI Management Mechanisms of TBI • Focal = contact injury ocausing laceration, contusion, intracranial hemorrhage • Diffuse = acceleration/deceleration injury, anoxic oleading to brain swelling, diffuse axonal...Open page Shock OverviewShock definition, categories (hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic), resuscitation principles, and signs of adequate volume status.Open page SICU Daily Rounds — Expectations & Presentation FormatDaily workflow and expectations for ICU residents during SICU rotation, including rounding format, progress note expectations, and family connect notes.Open page Spinal Cord InjurySpinal cord injury overview including secondary injury prevention, MAP goals, ASIA classification, neurogenic vs. spinal shock, autonomic dysreflexia, and SICU complications.Open page ACS TQIP Spine Injury GuidelinesACS TQIP spine injury guidance covering initial evaluation, spinal motion restriction, imaging, classification, spinal cord injury care, neurogenic shock, and VTE prophylaxis.Open page Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2026 GuidelinesSurviving Sepsis Campaign 2026 — 113 recommendations across screening, infection control, hemodynamics, respiratory support, adjunctive therapies, and recovery.Open page ACS TQIP Severe TBI GuidelinesACS TQIP traumatic brain injury guidance covering GCS assessment, triage and transport, treatment goals, ICP management, operative considerations, nutrition, tracheostomy, VTE prophylaxis, and special populations.Open page Trauma Activation & Initial AssessmentTrauma activation criteria, trauma bay readiness, ABCDE primary survey, and damage control resuscitation framework. Based on ATLS principles and ACS TQIP guidance.Open page TRICC Trial — Transfusion Requirements in Critical CareLandmark TRICC trial summary comparing restrictive and liberal red-cell transfusion strategies in critically ill patients.Open page VasopressorsOverview of vasopressor use in distributive shock, distributive shock pathophysiology, and common pressor agents used in the SICU.Open page Mechanical Ventilation — BasicsMechanical Ventilation Basics Normal Respiratory v Mechanical Ventilation What’s different? Negative pressure v Positive Pressure Respiratory Terminology • Compliance: ΔV/ΔP • Elastance: ΔP /ΔV • Dead Space: Portion of...Open page Ventilator Weaning — Practical Guide (Akella 2022)Practical ventilator-weaning review covering weaning classification, causes of weaning failure, predictors, spontaneous-breathing trials, and liberation strategies.Open page Weaning Patients from the VentilatorReview of ventilator liberation readiness, spontaneous-breathing trials, extubation factors, and evidence-based strategies to reduce duration of mechanical ventilation.Open page Volume Assessment & Endpoints of ResuscitationDetermination of intravascular volume status and endpoints of resuscitation: limitations of CVP, role of lactate, ScvO2, and IVC ultrasound in guiding resuscitation.Open page

Tools

Calculators and practical tools for quick bedside use.

Anion GapCalculate anion gap to evaluate metabolic acidosis.Open calculator Corrected Sodium (Hyperglycemia)Adjust measured serum sodium for effect of hyperglycemia.Open calculator Creatinine Clearance (Cockcroft-Gault)Estimate creatinine clearance for drug dosing and renal function assessment.Open calculator Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)Assess level of consciousness after brain injury using eye, verbal, and motor responses.Open calculator Ideal Body Weight (IBW)Calculate ideal body weight for ventilator tidal volume dosing.Open calculator Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP)Calculate mean arterial pressure from systolic and diastolic blood pressure.Open calculator PaO₂/FiO₂ Ratio (P/F Ratio)Assess oxygenation severity and classify ARDS.Open calculator Shock IndexRapid bedside indicator of hemodynamic instability.Open calculator Tidal Volume by Predicted Body WeightCalculate lung-protective tidal volume target for ventilated patients.Open calculator

Templates

Reusable structures for notes, presentations, family updates, and handoffs.

Daily Rounds PresentationSystems-based presentation format for SICU rounds. Based on SurgCritCare. org expected presentation format.Open template Event NoteDocumentation for acute clinical events in the ICU (respiratory failure, hypotension, unplanned extubation, code, etc.).Open template Family Connect / Update NoteFamily connect notes are written twice weekly (by Tuesday and Friday) per SurgCritCare. org orientation. They document family communication and are not intended to be long unless the psychosocial situation demands it.Open template ICU Progress Note (Systems-Based)Daily progress note format for SICU patients. Systems-based format as outlined in SurgCritCare. org orientation materials.Open template Signout / Handoff NoteStructured handoff communication for SICU patients during shift transitions.Open template Trauma History & PhysicalInitial trauma H&P for trauma bay and emergency department evaluation.Open template

Sources

Source documents, citations, and reference material.

OrientationResponsibilities, rounding expectations, handoffs, and escalation habits for the surgical ICU rotation.Open page TraumaTrauma activation structure, primary and secondary survey flow, injury patterns, and early disposition thinking.Open page SICUSystems-based critical care assessment for surgical patients, including lines, drains, nutrition, prophylaxis, and disposition.Open page Neurocritical CareNeurologic exam structure, traumatic brain injury priorities, spinal cord concerns, and brain-death workflow awareness.Open page Respiratory / VentVentilator basics, oxygenation, pulmonary mechanics, spontaneous breathing trials, and weaning readiness.Open page Shock & HemodynamicsShock categories, vasopressor selection, perfusion markers, and bedside reassessment.Open page CardiovascularHemodynamic goals, rhythm concerns, cardiac medications, and perioperative cardiovascular issues.Open page Analgesia & SedationPain control, sedation goals, opioid conversion caution, delirium prevention, and ventilator comfort.Open page Alcohol WithdrawalRecognition, monitoring, escalation, and ICU-level treatment considerations for alcohol withdrawal.Open page CalculatorsSurgCritCare bedside calculators for common ICU and trauma calculations, with related Highland tools linked separately.Open page SICU CurriculumPGY-1 and PGY-2 SICU rotation competencies mapped to SurgCritCare references and tools.Open page TemplatesICU progress notes, trauma H&P structure, family update notes, and signout scaffolds.Open page ReferencesSource documents, SurgCritCare. org links, published literature, and attribution details.Open page SearchSearch across sections, calculators, templates, and references.Open page

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