Critical Care: Nuts & Bolts (Preview)

Topic Description: In this module, we will discuss important principles related to fluid management and vasopressor therapies used in the acute care and critical care setting. Manipulating the cardiac output, preload and afterload will be discussed including pharmacological effects of various medications. We will also discuss advanced hemodynamic monitoring, waveform analysis, and interpretation of the data. Appropriate correlation of all data points in relation to the clinical presentation is vital to ensure accurate interpretation of the data collected. Topic Objectives: 1. Discuss fluid and vasopressor management of acutely ill patients, describing pharmacological effects of various medications used. 2. Discuss advanced hemodynamic monitoring techniques, interpretation of various waveforms, and management of hemodynamic parameters.