Tag: Critical care medicine

Studies show that targeted temperature management (TTM) after cardiac arrest can improve neurological outcomes and survival in comatose patients. Understanding how to target temperature management involves a controlled, multi-phase medical procedure for cooling and rewarming the body to preserve brain function.

Approximately only 50% of critically ill patients experiencing hypotension are actually fluid responsive. Understanding **what does fluid response mean** is critical in emergency medicine and intensive care, as it helps clinicians determine if a patient will benefit from receiving more intravenous fluids.

Across the globe, approximately 5-10% of all hospital patients are admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) for life-threatening conditions. This demanding field has its own specific terminology. So, what is the medical term for critical care? It's a specialized discipline known as intensive care medicine.

While often intertwined, **Is pulmonary the same as critical care?** No, but it’s a common point of confusion since roughly half of all critically ill patients experience severe respiratory issues. Pulmonary medicine focuses on lung health, while critical care specializes in the life support of critically ill patients, regardless of their primary illness.

Did you know that specialized intensive care units within hospitals provide tailored treatment for specific conditions? Answering the question, **what is the difference between ICU and surgical ICU**, involves understanding this critical distinction based on a patient's medical versus surgical needs.

According to MedlinePlus, the terms critical care and intensive care are often used interchangeably to refer to the same level of advanced medical support for life-threatening conditions. The reality is that there is no meaningful difference when people ask which is worse, critical care or intensive care.

Medically speaking, a fever is considered refractory when it does not respond to conventional pharmacological antipyretic treatments like acetaminophen. This condition signals that the cause of the elevated temperature is more complex than a typical viral or bacterial infection and requires specialized investigation.