Doctors Were Stunned When
Patients Started Dancing
In a twist of medical serendipity, the 1950s hunt for a tuberculosis cure led to something completely unexpected - the first antidepressant. When doctors at Staten Island's Sea View Hospital started testing a new drug called iproniazid, they were baffled to see their terminally ill patients suddenly breaking into song and dance. These patients, who had previously accepted their grim fates, were now asking when they could leave the hospital, bubbling with newfound optimism and energy.
This mysterious mood boost turned out to be no fluke - scientists discovered iproniazid was affecting brain chemistry by inhibiting an enzyme called monoamine oxidase. While the drug eventually got shelved due to liver problems, this accidental discovery revolutionized psychiatry by proving depression could be treated with medication. Talk about a plot twist in medical history!
Welcome to the 102nd edition of ResusNation!
Do NOT Try This At Home!!!
Trigger warning, this video will make you mad. In this insane video the creator breaks open a glass vial using a laryngoscope handle. This set the ResusNation community on fire and the comments section was wild!
Please do NOT do this, but please watch and share just for the entertainment value.
Watch the full video here and leave a comment.
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Status Epilepticus
How do you manage a patient with status epilepticus when every second counts? In this episode, Dr. Derek Isenberg outlines a step-by-step algorithm for seizure management, emphasizing high-dose benzodiazepines, evidence-based second-line agents, and the growing role of ketamine for refractory seizures. Learn why time is critical, how to identify non-convulsive status with continuous EEG, and how aggressive early intervention can make all the difference. Tune in to sharpen your seizure management skills and bring cutting-edge care to your practice!
Check out this video of Dr. Derek Isenberg from ResusX:ReVolved now!
Watch 75 of Our Best Resus Videos!
Have you managed a crash airway, had to resuscitate with refractroy ventricular tachaycardia, or lead your team during a resuscitation? If you answered yes, then ask yourself, "are you treating your patients with the most cutting-edge and evidence based medicine?" Today you can sign up for ResusX:Select Volume 1,2, and 3. In all, you will get lifetime access to 75 of our very best resuscitation videos so you can take your skills to the next level!
Each of these videos is hand picked by our editorial team because they demonstrate mastery in resuscitation. Each of these videos is engaging, entertaining, and jam packed with information. At the completion of the program, you will be able to claim 12.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits or CEU contact hours.
Check out all 75 videos that you'll get lifetime access to:
And because you're a newsletter subscriber, I have a super special deal for you. Register for ResusX:Select right now and get 20% off your registration. That's a HUGE savings for 75 videos! Plus, if you are a resident, NP, PA, or nurse, you'll receive an additional 20% off. The only catch is we only have 50 of these discounts codes to giveaway, so it's first come first serve. Use the code "SELECT3" at checkout or just click the link below!
New Study Challenges Weaning Patients from Ventilators
For critically ill patients on ventilators, the transition back to breathing independently is a major step in recovery. A new study involving 797 patients across 23 North American intensive care units has examined how best to manage this transition. Researchers, led by Dr. Karen Burns and colleagues, investigated two key aspects: how often to check if patients are ready to breathe on their own, and what technique to use when testing their breathing ability.
The study compared two different approaches to screening patients (once daily versus more frequent checks) and two methods of conducting "spontaneous breathing trials" (using partial ventilator support versus removing ventilator support entirely). While the researchers expected these approaches to have independent effects, they discovered something surprising - the combination of more frequent screening with partial ventilator support actually increased the time patients needed to successfully come off the ventilator.
When using partial ventilator support during breathing trials, patients who were screened just once daily achieved independence from the ventilator more quickly (median 2.0 days) compared to those screened more frequently (3.9 days). This finding challenges the common assumption that more frequent screening would lead to faster progress.
The study also found that when screening was done once daily, there wasn't a significant difference between using partial or no ventilator support during breathing trials. This suggests that for many patients, the traditional practice of daily screening may be just as effective as more frequent checks.
The research team carefully monitored patient safety throughout the study. Importantly, there were very few adverse events across all groups, indicating that both screening frequencies and breathing trial methods were safe for patients.
Here's my Takeaways:
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More frequent screening isn't always better - in some cases, it may actually slow down the process of getting patients off ventilators.
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The effectiveness of different breathing trial techniques may depend on how often we screen patients, highlighting the complexity of ventilator weaning.
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Once-daily screening with either breathing trial technique appears to be a reasonable approach for most patients.
Want to learn more? Read the full study "Frequency of Screening and Spontaneous Breathing Trial Techniques: A Randomized Clinical Trial" by Burns KE, Wong J, Rizvi L, et al. in JAMA, published October 9, 2024.
ResusNation Unite!
All-Access members of ResusNation are invited to join Haney Mallemat for an online interactive session this February 7, 2025 at 01:00 PM EST. Bring your cases, questions, or just listen in to what other members are talking about. We'll meet on the Kajabi app so we can all talk face-to-face. And don't worry if you can't make the meeting, it'll be recorded for you to watch after the fact. If you are an All-Access member, you'll receive an email with your private link soon.
Not a member? Then it's time to sign up because membership comes with privileges. You'll get access to monthly hangouts, access to our grand rounds library, access to post-grand rounds Q&A with the faculty, 5 monthly videos, and so much more.
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What happens when you need to intubate a patient, but their airway is filled with vomit, blood, or thick secretions? In this episode, Dr. Shyam Murali takes us through the SALAD (Suction-Assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination) technique, a life-saving approach to managing contaminated airways. Learn how to optimize suction, clear the airway, and improve intubation success with game-changing strategies like the suction park and SALAD poke methods. If youā€™re in emergency or critical care medicine, this episode is packed with must-know airway management skills that could save a life!
Check out this video of Dr. Shyam Murali from ResusX:ReVolved now!
Watch the February Videos Now!
If you're an All-Access Member, you're in for some great content this month. We have FIVE videos hand-picked by our staff that are high-yield and our most highly watched. We're featuring
- Haywood on "Ventilation in Obesity"
- Hedayati on "Right Bundle - When to Be Afraid"
- McCloskey on "The Sleepwalking Resuscitationist"
- VandenBerg covering "Chest Pain and..."
- Marcolini on "What's Their Status (Epilepticus) Now?"
Each month we bring you fresh new content from the best of the best in resuscitation. If you're an All-Access member, go watch these videos NOW! If you're not, then sign up here.
Are you a member of ResusNation? For less than a cup of coffee, you can get even more content from CriticalCareNow. Digital teaching sessions, podcasts, free video lectures, grand rounds, and so much more can be your today. Come watch on replay all the content that CriticalCareNow does live. Check out the membership options below and decide the right one for you.
Do you want even more resus content anytime you want? For less than a cup of coffee, you can get even more content from @CriticalCareNow. Digital teaching sessions, free video lectures, grand rounds, and so much more can be your today. Come watch on replay all the content that @CriticalCareNow does live.
Check out the membership options below and decide the right one for you.
Get Access To The ResusNation Today!
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