New strategies suggested for critical heart care in the ICU

Patients in cardiac intensive care units (CICUs) could benefit from the CICU health care team using a daily checklist to prevent infections and other common complications, according to a new American Heart Association Scientific Statement, "Prevention of Complications in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit," published today in the Association's flagship journal Circulation. This Statement reviews evidence from general medical and surgical ICUs to identify opportunities to apply them to the care of critically ill heart patients and improve CICU outcomes.