A haemofilter is a machine used to perform continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), a form of kidney support for critically ill patients whose kidneys are unable to adequately filter the blood and remove waste products and excess fluid. Unlike conventional haemodialysis (which runs intermittently over 3 to 4 hours), CRRT using a haemofilter runs continuously … Read more
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychological therapy used to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences. It is one of the two treatments recommended by NICE for [post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)](/glossary/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/), alongside trauma-focused [cognitive behavioural therapy](/glossary/cognitive-behavioural-therapy/). EMDR works on the principle that traumatic memories can become stuck in the brain’s … Read more
Extubation is the removal of an endotracheal tube (ETT) from a patient’s airway once they no longer require mechanical ventilation. It is a planned, structured procedure carried out by the critical care team when the patient has demonstrated sufficient ability to breathe independently and protect their own airway. Before extubation, clinicians assess several factors: whether … Read more