Introduction: Patient-centered care refers to care with respect for and responsiveness to patients’ preferences, needs, and values; in this type of care, it is ensured that a patient's values are valued in clinical decision-making. Achieving Patient-centered care is not simple and needs a proper context to be provided. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to explain the context of Pa...

Critical care medicine is a relatively young specialty that was developed in response to potentially reversible life-threatening illness and was facilitated by developments such as new drugs, support equipment, and monitoring technology. It has been largely practiced within the four walls of an intensive care unit (ICU). However, now there are increasing numbers of critically ill and at-risk pa...

The current Update in Critical Care reviews the past year’s most important articles relevant to those practicing critical care. Critical care medicine continues to advance rapidly, particularly with results from large multicenter trials. Results from studies by the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Clinical Trials Network have substantial implications for use of such diagnostic devices as the...

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory process which occurs in a normal organ and which is diagnosed mainly by acute abdominal pain associated with a concomitant rise of serum amylase and lipase concentrations (1, 2). Gallstone migration into the common bile duct and alcohol abuse account for most of the etiologies of the disease. Usually the injury is mild, but 20% of the patients have a severe...

Coagulation problems are very common in intensive care patients. It is important to recognize potential problems, perform a rapid assessment, and start therapy. The author reviews general clinical and laboratory approaches to diagnosis and treatment of the bleeding patient and to correction of coagulopathies. This review outlines a set of often catastrophic coagulation problems, which may prese...

Childbirth is a major event in the lives of mothers and their families. Critical illness in pregnancy is uncommon but may arise from conditions unique to pregnancy, conditions exacerbated by pregnancy and coincidental conditions. According to the latest Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths in the UK, haemorrhage remains a leading direct cause of mortality; however, there has been an increa...

Critical care medicine is the specialty that cares for patients with acute life-threatening illnesses where intensivists look after all aspects of patient care. Nevertheless, shortage of physicians and nurses, the relationship between high costs and economic restrictions, and the fact that critical care knowledge is only available at big hospitals puts the system on the edge. In this scenario, ...