Critical care is the moment when time, physiology, and decisions collide—and the margin for error is thin. It’s not defined by an ICU bed; it’s defined by the need for emergent care to prevent or treat life-threatening illness.

REBEL Crit exists to help clinicians deliver the best possible care to the sickest patients. We critically appraise the latest literature, translate findings into bedside practice, and publish review articles on complex topics designed for busy providers. 

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  • REBEL Crit
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  • REBEL Crit

Therapy Options in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

 Background Information: The care and management of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is complex and follows an inciting injury to the lungs. This constellation of symptoms is characterized by hypoxemia, diffuse lung inflammation, decreased lung compliance and noncardiogenic ...

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Thoracic and Respiratory

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH): A Zebra Diagnosis We Should All Know

What is it HLH? Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and often fatal syndrome of uncontrolled and ineffective inflammatory response to a certain trigger. It is characterized by excessive proliferation of lymphocytes and macrophages (histiocytes), hence the name “lymphohistiocytosis”. This ...

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Hematology and Oncology

The ORANGES Trial: Why You Can’t Just Read the Abstract

Background: The cornerstones of sepsis management continues to include early identification, early appropriate empiric antibiotics, definitive source control, and vasopressors to support end organ perfusion. There have been multiple studies looking at the co-administration of hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid, and thiamine ...

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Infectious Disease

The LOCO2 Trial: Liberal or Conservative Oxygen Therapy for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Background: In patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ARDS clinical trials network recommends a target partial pressure of arterial oxygen (Pao2) between 55 and 80 mmHg. Goals of arterial oxygenation are not based ...

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Thoracic and Respiratory

Fluid Administration in End-Stage Renal Disease for Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock by Shyam Murali, MD

Background: In end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis (HD), infection is the second most common cause of mortality after cardiovascular disease (Sarnik 2000). Because of the systemic inflammation and increased capillary permeability, septic patients are at significant risk for fluid ...

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Endocrine, Metabolic, Fluid, and ElectrolytesInfectious DiseaseResuscitation

Peripheral Pressors: 6 Pearls to Not F*#k Up the Arm

Traditionally, vasopressor infusions have been done through central venous catheters (CVCs) due to the hypothetical risk of extravasation injury to extremities when given through peripheral IVs.  The documented risk of extravasation from peripheral pressors is 3 – 6% . Hypothetically, ...

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Procedures and Skills

New Opioid Use After Invasive Mechanical Ventilation and Hospital Discharge

Background Information: Physicians have and continue to heavily contribute to the current opioid epidemic in the United States and Canada.1 Although much of the focus has been opioid prescriptions given to patients in the emergency department,2,3 not much attention has ...

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Psychiatry/Behavioral HealthToxicology

The HYVCTTSSS Trial: The “Metabolic Cocktail” in Another RCT

Background: Getting the basics right in all illness is vital. In sepsis, this means appropriate use of antibiotics, judicious fluid resuscitation, and early identification.  Vasopressor support is also essential in the sickest sepsis patients (i.e. septic shock). Should the metabolic ...

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Infectious Disease

Steroids in Septic Shock via George Willis, MD

“You’re in the emergency department, you have a patient who EMS has brought in from a nursing home…who’s excited? Right, nobody is. And they are brought in for a chief complaint of altered mental status. So they’re concerned about sepsis. ...

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Infectious Disease

REBEL Crit Cast Ep3.0: Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV) Made Simple

Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV) is a mode of ventilation that allows spontaneous breathing throughout the ventilation cycle.  It is a time-cycled mode of ventilation between two levels of positive airway pressure with the main time on the high level ...

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Thoracic and Respiratory

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