Tools that facilitate prompt and precise decision-making can make a tremendous difference in outcomes for patients in the ICU experiencing cardiovascular issues. But physicians must first have a deep understanding of their appropriate use, when to use them, and how to interpret the results.
During Cardiac Waveforms in the ICU, on Monday, from 1 pm to 2 pm, in Room 316C of the convention center, panelists will provide an interactive overview of the various waveforms that critical care physicians can expect to see in today’s expanded ICU population.
“Having knowledge about cardiac waveforms can potentially save patients’ lives and assist in determining the appropriate course of action for their treatment, such as administering fluids, continuing medical interventions, or escalating care to more advanced support systems,” said Session Chair, Mohammed Megri, MD, Pulmonary and Critical Care Physician at JPS Health Network/TCU.
Dr. Megri will review the interpretation of arterial line waveforms so that attendees can describe normal and abnormal line tracings and troubleshoot these findings.
David Bowton, MD, FCCP, of Wake Forest School of Medicine, will discuss the most common arrhythmias that intensivists are likely to see in the ICU and how to recognize and differentiate them.
Abhijit Duggal, MD, MBBS, of Cleveland Clinic, will explore pulmonary artery catheter tracings, common abnormalities, and the details they can reveal about right heart structure and function.
Lakshmi Sridharan, MD, of Emory University School of Medicine, will delve into the topic of intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP). IABP tracings are gaining popularity due to the wealth of data they can reveal but may be less familiar to those without recent training, Dr. Megri said.
Each presentation will promote further discussion and enhance the understanding of cardiac waveforms for physicians of all experience levels.
“This one session can give you a focused introduction to put you on the right track the next time you are in the ICU,” Dr. Megri said. “If you’ve been in the ICU for a long time, it’s a good review. Whether you are at the beginning of your career, toward the end, or somewhere in between, these are the skills that you can use every day in your own ICU.”