The critical care literature 2023

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Critical Care Medicine
• Clinical Research

Background:

• The number of critically ill patients in emergency departments (EDs) is increasing globally, exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
• Emergency physicians (EPs) are the first responders for critically ill patients but face challenges due to ICU bed shortages and staffing issues.
• Prolonged patient boarding in EDs leads to adverse outcomes, including increased mortality, longer hospital stays, and decreased patient satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize key resuscitation and critical care literature published in 2023 relevant to emergency department patients.
• To provide emergency physicians with up-to-date, evidence-based information for managing critically ill patients.
• To cover critical topics including cardiac arrest, septic shock, and trauma management.

Main Methods:

• Review of significant articles published in 2023.
• Focus on literature pertaining to the resuscitation and management of critically ill patients in the emergency department.
• Inclusion of diverse critical care topics.

Main Results:

• The review covers advancements in cardiac arrest and post-cardiac arrest care.
• Key findings on septic shock management and rapid sequence intubation are discussed.
• Recent literature on severe pneumonia, transfusions, trauma, and critical procedures is summarized.

Conclusions:

• Staying current with critical care literature is essential for EPs to provide optimal patient care.
• The review offers a concise overview of 2023's critical advancements for emergency medicine.
• Knowledge of recent literature aids in improving outcomes for critically ill ED patients.