President's Message
“Ask not what your country can do…”
So concludes a justifiably famous oration entreating citizens to contribute to the greater good. Fortunately, that’s one thing that doesn’t need to be said at SOCCA. In the 6 months that I have been President, the one thing I hear over and over again is “How can I contribute?” or “What does SOCCA need?”. It is both gratifying and exciting to feel the energy behind our growing and energetic group of critical care anesthesiologists. I am reminded time and time again of what an honor it is to serve this society. Continue Reading...
A Brief Conversation with...Jacob Gutsche
Dr. Jacob Gutsche, M.D. is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and is the System Director for Cardiovascular Critical Care and Postoperative Care for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. In addition, he is the co-medical director of the Penn Lung Rescue Program. His research interests and clinical expertise center around the implementation and management of ECMO in severe respiratory failure. Continue Reading...
Respiratory Depression: Beyond the PACU, Before the ICU
Modern-day anesthesia is safe. Therefore, intraoperative mortality is rare. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of postoperative mortality. Among a national sampling of inpatients who undergo surgery, 2% die within a month, with 50% of deaths occurring during the initial hospitalization.(1) If the 30 days after surgery were considered a disease, it would be the third leading cause of death in the United States.(2) Cardiorespiratory complications are by far the most common causes of 30-day postoperative mortality. Continue Reading...
Survival is Just the Beginning: The Post-Intensive Care System
A considerable body of evidence published over the past decade has deepened our understanding of the immense challenges faced by survivors of critical illness as they leave the hospital and begin the recovery process. It is essential to our mission as intensivists to understand the long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional sequelae of critical illness, as well as to incorporate into our practice evidence-based interventions that can not only reduce mortality, but also improve quality of life for our surviving patients and their families. Continue Reading...
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