Understanding the Challenges of Intensive Care Staff in Communicating With Patients and Patients' Families During the COVID-19 Crisis: A Qualitative Exploration.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) isolation protocols in India restricted family members of COVID-19 patients from visiting them in hospitals and in intensive care units, especially during the peak of the pandemic. This along with the elaborate personal protective equipment (PPE) created challenges for intensivists and nurses in COVID ICUs in effectively communicating with patients and patients' families, especially in shared decision-making processes. Methods This article is the outcome of a qualitative study using in-depth one-on-one interviews with 10 intensivists and four intensive care nurses in two teaching hospitals in Bengaluru, South India.

Fogging of Protective Eyewear in Intensive Care Unit and a Comparative Study of Techniques to Reduce It.

Background: Fogging of protective eyewear (PEW) can hinder routine work in the intensive care unit (ICU). The prevalence of fogging impairing vision (FIV) and the technique that reduces fogging have not been evaluated previously.

Methods: After donning personal protective equipment (PPE) with an N95 mask, the healthcare workers (HCWs) sequentially tried plain PEW, soap-coated PEW, PEW worn at a distance over the PPE hood, and the use of tape over a mask.

Two Uncommon Presentations of COVID-19-Associated Mucormycosis.

Mucormycosis is a rare opportunistic fungal infection commonly affecting immunocompromised individuals. There has been a surge in the number of these cases during the second wave of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in India. Mucormycosis has been reported to occur concurrently or a few weeks post-recovery from COVID-19.

Intensive Care in India in 2018-2019: The Second Indian Intensive Care Case Mix and Practice Patterns Study.

Background: We aimed to study organizational aspects, case mix, and practices in Indian intensive care units (ICUs) from 2018 to 2019, following the Indian Intensive Care Case Mix and Practice Patterns Study (INDICAPS) of 2010-2011.

Methods: An observational, 4-day point prevalence study was performed between 2018 and 2019. ICU, patient characteristics, and interventions were recorded for 24 hours, and ICU outcomes till 30 days after the study day.

Oxygenation Indices in Noninvasive Ventilation: Could They Predict Mortality in COVID-19?

D'Silva C. Oxygenation Indices in Noninvasive Ventilation: Could They Predict Mortality in COVID-19? Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(8):841-842.

Clinical Utility of Arterial Blood Gas Test in an Intensive Care Unit: An Observational Study.

Background: Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is a common test ordered in critically ill patients. Often, it is performed very frequently without influencing patient care. Hence, we decided to check the utility of the ABG test in our intensive care unit (ICU).

Rodenticide Poisoning.

D'Silva C, Krishna B. Rodenticide Poisoning. Indian J Crit Care Med 2019;23(Suppl 4):S272-S277.