ESICM Talk

Can innovation really transform the future of intensive care?Join the first episode of the ESICM podcast series, The Future of Intensive Care. Prof. Maurizio Cecconi joins Dr Massimiliano Greco to explore how innovation can address key healthcare challenges—from workforce shortages to sustainability pressures.Moving beyond the buzzword, this episode unpacks what meaningful innovation looks like in the ICU and how it can be translated into real impact at the bedside.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a frequent complication in critically ill patients and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, the clinical relevance of AKI extends well beyond the acute episode. Renal recovery plays a crucial role in determining long-term patient outcomes, including the risk of chronic kidney disease, long-term dialysis dependence, and overall quality of life after ICU discharge.In this podcast, we explore why renal recovery from AKI is particularly important for intensivists. The discussion addresses different patterns of renal recovery, key factors influencing recovery in critically ill patients, and how ICU management strategies may impact kidney outcomes.Join experts Melanie Meersch and Celine Monard, and hosts Beatrice Brunoni and Thilo von Groote, as they share their perspectives and insights on this important topic in intensive care.

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Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) refers to the prolonged impairment of physical, cognitive, and mental health that can occur after an intensive care stay. Its effects may last for over a decade after discharge. Our NEXT colleagues have explored this important topic in their podcast featuring Dr. Anne-Francoise Rousseau who addresses key questions and future strategies for managing PICS. Do not miss this opportunity —tune in now!

Admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) can be a challenging experience for patients and their families. Psychological burdens, including symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress, are among the most reported during the ICU stay.A recent study has been carried out as a joint project between France and the United States in which the experts have designed an intervention to improve outcomes for patients’ families. For this intervention, they evaluated the nurse facilitator to support, model and teach communication strategies that will help in securing care aligned with patients' goals at the ICU. To learn more about this intervention, we interviewed one of the main authors, Nancy Kentish Barnes. Listen to our podcast for deeper insights into this study!

Mechanical ventilation (MV) can impair gas exchange, destabilise hemodynamics, and injure endothelial cells. Intravenous (IV) fluid therapy helps to restore hemodynamics and ensure adequate distal organ perfusion. However, the interplay between restrictive and liberal fluid strategies due to the complex physiological interaction between the heart and lungs may affect ventilation and risk organ damage in critically ill patients. Tune in to our next podcast and learn more about the fluids-MV interplay!

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) represent sudden and severe declines in airway function and respiratory symptoms in COPD patients. The clinical presentation of AECOPD is diverse, demanding a treatment approach tailored to disease severity—beginning with antibiotic therapy and, in critical cases, advancing to mechanical ventilation for respiratory support. Tune into our next podcast to learn more!

Autonomic dysfunction and tachycardia are strongly linked to poor outcomes in septic shock, contributing to high mortality rates. In the upcoming podcast, we explore whether β-blockade with landiolol for up to 14 days can reduce organ failure, as measured by the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, in critically ill patients with tachycardia and septic shock who have been on high-dose norepinephrine for over 24 hours. Dr. Tony Whitehouse, interviewed by two NEXT representatives, discusses the key findings of the STRESS-L Randomized Clinical Trial.

Esophageal pressure measurement plays a crucial role in estimating transpulmonary pressure, with both its absolute values and variations being key factors in assessing lung injury from mechanical forces during ventilation. To gain deeper insights into esophageal pressure monitoring and the essential equipment required for accurate measurement, tune in to the NEXT podcast. Luigi Zattera, the NEXT representative, conducted an insightful interview with Lise Piquilloud, head of the Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) section. 

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Cardiogenic shock accounts for up to 5% of acute heart failure presentations and around 14–16% of patients reported in cardiac intensive care datasets. It complicates up to 15% of all myocardial infarctions and is the leading cause of death post-infarction. Using pharmacological agents alone may increase left ventricular afterload and myocardial oxygen demand, resulting in complications. Thus, mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices have emerged as important therapeutic options. As evidence remains uncertain, MCS selection depends on clinician preference and local availability.An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of high-quality RCTs and propensity score-matched studies (PSMs) was performed to compare the outcomes of MCS devices with no MCS and each other and investigate which MCS is the most effective in reducing mortality.To learn more about the findings of this study listen to this podcast.

Professional burnout has been described by WHO as a syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. Intensive care unit (ICU) professionals are at high risk of experiencing burnout due to the presence of patients with life-threatening illnesses, the observed discrepancies in job demands, responsibility overload, workload, end-of-life issues, perception of futility and other constituting potential stressors. To talk about the prevalence, outcomes, ethical implications and management strategies of ICU professional burnout we have interviewed Dr. Michalsen. Listen to the interview in the following podcast.

Cerebral ultrasound is a developing point-of-care tool for intensivists and emergency physicians, with an important role in diagnosing acute intracranial pathology. The use of transcranial Doppler has expanded over the last years, opening a new window to the assessment of cerebral anatomy not only in neurocritical patients but also in general ICU and emergency room patients. To discuss the use of cerebral ultrasound for young intensivists we have interviewed Dr. Bertuetti. Listen to the interview in the following podcast.