Corticosteroids in critically ill patients: A narrative review

Area of Science:

• Critical care medicine
• Pharmacology
• Clinical research

Background:

• Corticosteroids are widely used in medicine with known benefits and harms.
• Critically ill patients face increased risks from corticosteroid complications and comorbidities.
• Established indications include ARDS, septic shock, and COPD, among others.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of corticosteroid use in critical care.
• To detail benefits and harms across various critical illness states.
• To guide appropriate therapeutic utilization of corticosteroids.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of existing literature.
• Analysis of corticosteroid benefits and adverse effects.
• Examination of utilization in specific critical care disease states.

Main Results:

• Corticosteroids can improve outcomes, reduce hospital stay, and decrease mortality.
• Adverse effects include hyperglycemia, immunosuppression, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Associated with increased healthcare costs.

Conclusions:

• Corticosteroid therapy in critical care requires careful risk-benefit assessment.
• Management strategies must mitigate adverse effects.
• This review consolidates current knowledge on corticosteroid use in critical illness.