Focus on cardiovascular management in critically ill patients

Thromboembolism and VTE prophylaxis in ICU patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are of particular concern, especially in new-onset AF with haemodynamic stability. Haemodynamic evaluation in the ICU is mainly targeted to assess the adequacy of cardiac output using a battery of tests and measurements ranging from simple non-invasive variables (to highly invasive measurements . Clinical examination includes several readily available markers of haemodynamic compromise, but the comparable validity of these signs is less studied. Beyond early cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation, there are data suggesting that some recommended advance life support interventions may not always represent the best strategy in cardiac arrest . Observational data suggest centre-specific differences in outcomes and treatments after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) not explained by patient characteristics indicating that clinical practice needs further exploration.