[Core knowledge and skill-based approach to subspecialty construction in critical/intensive care medicine with...

With the rapid development of critical care medicine (CCM) in China, there are increases in the number of intensive care units (ICUs), the scale of one center ICU and the team. Subspecialty construction of CCM is of great concerns for personnel training as well as discipline development, and is currently one of the urgent problems that need to be resolved. Experience of CCM subspecialty construction from Europe and the United States is lacking and it is necessary to propose some opinions on innovation to construct CCM subspecialties with Chinese characteristics. We believe that CCM sub-specialties construction should be based on the core knowledge (pathophysiology) and skill (organ monitoring and support). The following 7 sub-specialties can be set up: (1) acute lung injury and mechanical ventilation; (2) shock, hemodynamic monitoring and treatment; (3) acute kidney injury and blood purification; (4) sepsis and anti-infective therapy; (5) stress, sedation and analgesia; (6) nutrition and metabolic support; (7) coagulation, immune and inflammation. The core knowledge and skills of critical care medicine will constantly be updated and enriched. Therefore, sub-specialty settings should be constantly updated as well.