Fetal outcome in the critically ill pregnant woman

Fetal outcome in the critically ill pregnant woman

Management of the critically ill pregnant woman is complicated by potential adverse effects of both maternal illness and ICU interventions on the fetus. This paper reviews the potential risks to the fetus of maternal critical illness, including shock, hypoxemia, and fever, as well as the effects of critical care management, such as drug therapy and radiological investigations. The authors' reco...

Nutritional Assessment in Critically Ill Patients

Background: Malnutrition is an important factor in the survival of critically ill patients. The purpose of the present study was to assess the nutritional status of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) on the days of admission and discharge via a detailed nutritional assessment. Methods: Totally, 125 patients were followed up from admission to discharge at 8ICUs in Shiraz, Iran. The patien...

Obstetric delivery in mechanically ventilated critically ill pregnant women

Introduction Approximately 1 in 500 pregnancies develop complications requiring mechanical ventilatory support, the majority of episodes occurring postpartum. While uncommon, the situation of a pregnant woman requiring ventilatory support for respiratory failure is very concerning. Delivery of the fetus is often considered, either to improve maternal well-being or due to concerns for the fetus....

probiotics in critically ill patients

Can a pregnant woman morally refuse fetal surgery?

Fetal surgery techniques may soon improve so that the benefits to the fetus will outweigh the risks to the pregnant woman. Under such a scenario , utilitarianism-which seeks the greatest overall societal benefit-would require surgical intervention to treat the fetus, even if the woman refused the surgery. This Comment argues, however, that deontology provides the better decisionmaking framework...