The use of checklists in the intensive care unit: a scoping review.

Background: Despite the extensive volume of research published on checklists in the intensive care unit (ICU), no review has been published on the broader role of checklists within the intensive care unit, their implementation and validation, and the recommended clinical context for their use. Accordingly, a scoping review was necessary to map the current literature and to guide future research on intensive care checklists. This review focuses on what checklists are currently used, how they are used, process of checklist development and implementation, and outcomes associated with checklist use.

Postoperative 20% albumin vs standard care and acute kidney injury after high-risk cardiac surgery (ALBICS): study protocol for a randomised trial.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of cardiac surgery. Factors such as cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamping and surgical stress may precipitate renal hypoperfusion and ischaemia, inflammation and oxidative stress are associated with development of AKI. Albumin's pharmacological properties and widespread availability have the potential to mitigate these factors.

Intensive care doctors and nurses personal preferences for Intensive Care, as compared to the general population: a discrete choice experiment.

Background: To test the hypothesis that Intensive Care Unit (ICU) doctors and nurses differ in their personal preferences for treatment from the general population, and whether doctors and nurses make different choices when thinking about themselves, as compared to when they are treating a patient.

Methods: Cross sectional, observational study conducted in 13 ICUs in Australia in 2017 using a discrete choice experiment survey. Respondents completed a series of choice sets, based on hypothetical situations which varied in the severity or likelihood of: death, cognitive impairment, need for prolonged treatment, need for assistance with care or requiring residential care.

Preparation for airway management in Australia and New Zealand ICUs during the COVID -19 pandemic.

Background: This paper aimed to describe the airway practices of intensive care units (ICUs) in Australia and New Zealand specific to patients presenting with COVID-19 and to inform whether consistent clinical practice was achieved. Specific clinical airway guidelines were endorsed in March 2020 by the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) and College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM).

Methods And Findings: Prospective, structured questionnaire for all ICU directors in Australia and New Zealand was completed by 69 ICU directors after email invitation from ANZICS.

Internet health information use by surrogate decision makers of patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a multicentre survey.

Objectives: To investigate the use, understanding, trust and influence of the internet and other sources of health information used by the next of kin (NOK) of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Design: Multicentre structured survey.

Setting: The ICUs of 13 public and private Australian hospitals.

Intensive care implications of epidemic thunderstorm asthma.

Objective: To investigate the environmental precipitants, treatment and outcome of critically ill patients affected by the largest and most lethal reported epidemic of thunderstorm asthma.

Design, Setting And Participants: Retrospective multicentre observational study. Meteorological, airborne particulate and pollen data, and a case series of 35 patients admitted to 15 intensive care units (ICUs) due to the thunderstorm asthma event of 21-22 November 2016, in Victoria, Australia, were analysed and compared with 1062 total ICU-admitted Australian patients with asthma in 2016.

Pharmacological and non-surgical renal protective strategies for cardiac surgery patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass: a systematic review.

Background: Post-operative acute kidney injury after cardiopulmonary bypass (AKI-CPB) for cardiac surgery is a frequent complication. It may require renal replacement therapy (RRT), which is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality. This review explores the efficacy of proposed pharmacological and non-surgical renal protective strategies.

The Melbourne epidemic thunderstorm asthma event 2016: an investigation of environmental triggers, effect on health services, and patient risk factors.

Background: A multidisciplinary collaboration investigated the world's largest, most catastrophic epidemic thunderstorm asthma event that took place in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov 21, 2016, to inform mechanisms and preventive strategies.

Methods: Meteorological and airborne pollen data, satellite-derived vegetation index, ambulance callouts, emergency department presentations, and data on hospital admissions for Nov 21, 2016, as well as leading up to and following the event were collected between Nov 21, 2016, and March 31, 2017, and analysed. We contacted patients who presented during the epidemic thunderstorm asthma event at eight metropolitan health services (each including up to three hospitals) via telephone questionnaire to determine patient characteristics, and investigated outcomes of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions.

Ventilation management in Victorian intensive care unit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: The setting of tidal volume (V) during controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV) in critically ill patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is likely important but currently unknown. We aimed to describe current CMV settings in intensive care units (ICUs) across Victoria.

Methods: We performed a multicentre, prospective, observational study.

Intensive care patient and family satisfaction.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to measure family member satisfaction with the care provided in an Australian private intensive care unit (ICU) at two time points separated by two years. The study was part of a quality improvement process for ICU, and was designed with reference to the revised Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health care.

Design/methodology/approach: This prospective study involved family members of patients admitted in ICU in February 2011 and February 2013.