The Climb to Better Oxygenation: A mountain-climbing analogy for ARDS management, where each stage of the ascent represents escalation of respiratory support—from high-flow oxygen and lung-protective ventilation to higher PEEP, prone positioning, neuromuscular blockade, and ECMO for refractory hypoxemia. As oxygenation improves, the descent illustrates the stepwise de-escalation of therapy toward ventilator liberation and recovery.

When the Lighthouse Goes Dark: A lighthouse analogy for brain death, where the brainstem is the guiding light directing every organ. Although life support may keep the body functioning temporarily, once the light is permanently extinguished, it cannot be restored. The illustration explains the clinical determination of brain death, why the body may still appear alive, and the irreversible loss of all brain function.

The Castle Under Siege: A medieval castle analogy for traumatic brain injury, where the skull is the fortress, the brain is the kingdom, and trauma launches the attack. The illustration depicts primary and secondary brain injury, common TBI patterns, and the coordinated defenses needed to stabilize the patient, control intracranial pressure, and protect the injured brain.

Impellas are temporary percutaneous cardiac devices assist used for hemodynamic support in patients with severe heart failure. This OnePager explains the function & physiology of LVADs as well as the settings and potential complications. Understanding how to interpret the placement signals is essential.

Over 2 billion people travel by commercial aircraft every year. When they become unexpectedly sick, it is essential to understand what to do in the austere aerospace medical environment. This OnePager covers the ethics/legality of volunteering, the physiology of the aerospace environment, the resources available (crew, equipment, ground communications) as well as an overview of common medical emergencies seen among passengers on commercial flights.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a hyperinflammatory syndrome due to aberrant activation of macrophages. It can be challenging to diagnose & often leads to critical illness with multiple organ system failure. This ICU OnePager reviews the etiology, diagnostic criteria, and treatment approach to this complex illness.

Cool the Fire, Save the Brain: A firefighter-themed analogy for targeted temperature management after cardiac arrest, where the injured brain is portrayed as being on fire from reperfusion injury. The ICU team extinguishes the flames with therapeutic cooling, illustrating how targeted temperature management reduces metabolic demand, limits secondary brain injury, and improves the chances of neurological recovery.

When the Dam Breaks: A disaster movie–style illustration where a ruptured blood vessel is portrayed as a collapsing dam, flooding the brain like a city overwhelmed by rising waters. The visual follows the emergency response—from rapid recognition and stabilization to controlling the bleed, evacuating the hematoma, and preventing secondary brain injury—highlighting the urgency of timely intervention to preserve brain function.

Escape the Rising Pressure: An escape room–themed illustration where the brain is trapped inside a locked skull as intracranial pressure rises. Each life-saving intervention unlocks the next door—osmotherapy, head elevation, sedation, CSF drainage, and decompressive craniectomy—illustrating the stepwise escalation of therapy to prevent brain herniation and protect the brain.

People in the custody of law enforcement deserve respectful & ethical care, particularly during critical illness. Critical care providers should be aware of their patients right and the law. This ICU OnePager discusses important topics including Privacy (disclosing information in front of LEO can violate HIPAA), Restraints (restraints can cause injury and you can request removal), Surrogate decision makers (patients have a right to choose surrogates), Testing, Visitation rights, and Compassionate Release.

Patients undergoing mechanical circulatory support (MCS) are at high risk for cardiac arrest due to their the underlying illness. But when these patients experience cardiac arrest, resuscitation protocols need be modified to reflect device & clinical context. This ICUOnePager describes how to adjust resuscitation in the presence of ECMO, IABP, Impella, or LVAD and what to do in the perioperative setting.

Cardiac arrests can be chaotic. Leading resuscitation is a complex skill, involving both a mastery of the knowledge & a structured approach to lead a team. This ICU OnePager presents a framework for clinicians to use: how to assign roles & crucial tasks physically in the room and how to structure events temporally. The goal is a smooth team based resuscitation.