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SCAI updates consensus framework for assessing cardiogenic shock severity

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) today released the 2026 SCAI SHOCK Classification Expert Consensus Update, providing refined guidance to help clinicians from diverse settings prioritize and recognize inadequate organ perfusion across a broad range of shock presentations, assess shock severity over time, and determine whether treatment is restoring adequate circulation.

6 Nov 2026

Routine pediatric lung therapies do not improve ventilator-free days

Results from the largest international clinical trial of its kind show that early, routine use of prone positioning and/or high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) do not increase ventilator-free days for children with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS).

6 Nov 2026

Medical societies unify to endorse evidence-based respiratory vaccine guidance

Hoping to provide much-needed guidance to clinicians treating patients with lung disease and to promote respiratory health, the Vaccine Guidance Review Panel, a multi-medical society effort, announced its endorsement of influenza, RSV and COVID-19 recommendations for adults and children.

5 Nov 2026

Pulse oximeter bias undercounts sleep apnea severity in Black patients

Sleep studies often use a pulse oximeter to determine the severity of sleep apnea. But a new study by investigators from Mass General Brigham reports that pulse oximeters may undercount breathing events in Black patients, potentially leading to inaccurate severity classifications.

4 Nov 2026

East Anglian Air Ambulance proves rapid pre-hospital blood test can diagnose brain bleeds in minutes

A pioneering blood test used at the scene of medical emergencies can identify patients with bleeding on the brain within minutes, according to East Anglian Air Ambulance, which has been trialing the technology in a US-first for air ambulances as part of its BRAIN-FIRST program.

4 Nov 2026

Extreme heat spikes hospital intensive care cardiac arrest admissions

As daily temperatures climbed above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (F) across the U.S., so did the rate of out-of-hospital (OHCA) cardiac arrest admissions to hospitals intensive care units (ICUs); however, the heat didn't appear to impact the overall outcomes of people admitted for cardiac arrest during heat waves compared to other times, according to new, independent, preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Resuscitation Science Symposium 2026.

2 Nov 2026

Hemoadsorption may improve outcomes in severe poisoning cases

The WHO estimated over 800,000 suicide deaths in 2012, with poisoning a major concern. Three‑quarters of suicides occur in low‑ and middle‑income countries, with an estimated 30% related to pesticides.

30 Oct 2026

Prescriptive AI tools shift critical care toward personalized treatment.

Critical care requires rapid decisions from complex, evolving data. Predictive models forecast deterioration but do not guide therapy.

30 Oct 2026

New guidance expands reproductive care for people with cystic fibrosis

For much of the history of cystic fibrosis (CF) care, reproductive health was not a major part of the conversation. Fertility challenges were the norm for men and women with this genetic disorder, and many grew up assuming biological parenthood was not possible.

23 Oct 2026

Brain-computer interface enables unresponsive ICU patients to control sounds

Unresponsive ICU patients in a new Columbia study were able to raise and lower the frequency of a beeping tone with their minds, via noninvasive EEG electrodes that recorded and translated their brainwaves.

23 Oct 2026

$52 million study to investigate why some infants develop lasting lung infections

A Michigan Medicine-led research consortium has secured approval for up to $52 million in federal funding to launch a multicenter study examining why some young children recover fully from viral lower respiratory tract infections while others develop severe illness or lasting problems such as asthma.

20 Oct 2026

Operating room air purification fails to reduce surgical infections

A study of more than 110,000 surgeries found that adding advanced air purification and sterilization systems to operating rooms did not reduce surgical site infections, postoperative complications, or deaths.

20 Oct 2026

Blood test could slash sepsis antibiotics

A simple daily blood test could help critically ill sepsis patients come off antibiotics sooner, potentially reducing drug overuse and helping tackle the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, new research shows.

20 Oct 2026

GLP-1 medications linked to reduced postoperative infections and heart complications

GLP-1 medications, widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may also help protect people from serious complications after surgery.

19 Oct 2026

CHEST announces first pulmonary certification program for nurse practitioners and physician assistants

Following a comprehensive discovery initiative examining the needs of advanced practice providers (APPs) in pulmonary medicine, the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) announces plans to move forward with the development of a pulmonary-focused education and certification program for nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants/associates (PAs).

15 Oct 2026

Understanding how neutrophil signaling pathways disrupt the human intestinal barrier

The intestinal mucosal barrier separates the host from the gut lumen and is essential for systemic homeostasis.

14 Oct 2026

Early vasopressin use does not improve septic shock survival

A new study from researchers at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City found that starting an advanced medication earlier for critically ill patients with life-threatening septic shock does not improve their survival, shorten hospital stays, or improve their recovery compared with waiting until their condition potentially worsens.

14 Oct 2026