SCCM Midwest Chapter

SAVE THE DATE!
March 23, 2026, at SCCM Congress, the Midwest Chapter is thrilled to invite you to our Chapter Reception.
When: 4-6pm
Where: 3rd floor of the Marriott Marquis Chicago - RR Donnelley Room

No RSVP required - stop by for some food, drinks, and a fun time!

Meet ICU Pharmacist Morgan Ridout, a member of the Midwest Chapter's Communications Committee. We had the opportunity to ask Morgan a few questions. Check out her answers below!

Interested in joining SCCM - Midwest Chapter? Email sccmmwc@gmail.com to learn more!

11/ 📝Pregnancy ACLS Fundamentals:
~Communicate with team early
~Standard ACLS
~Manual LUD is the standard
~No change in drug dosing
~Prepare for resuscitative delivery
~Deliver within 5 minutes

10/ 🚨Suspecting amniotic fluid or hemorrhage? Initiate massive transfusion protocol early with balanced blood products.
⚡ When standard CPR isn’t enough, consider extracorporeal CPR to support circulation!

9/ Activate the team early!
📞Contact obstetricians, neonatologists, anesthesiologists, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare teams that may be needed depending on local resources.

8/ Maternal resuscitation takes priority! Detach fetal monitors while ACLS is ongoing. If ROSC is not achieved, perform resuscitative delivery within 5 minutes🕐.
Resuscitative delivery assists with unloading the IVC, improves venous return, and increases CPR effectiveness!

7/ If magnesium is infusing at the time of cardiac arrest, STOP the magnesium! Magnesium blocks calcium channels which decrease myocardial contractility and slow AV conduction. Give calcium chloride (central access preferred) or calcium gluconate to improve contractility🫀

6/ Med dosing doesn’t change for ACLS in pregnancy!
💉Epinephrine 1 mg IV q3-5min
💉Amiodarone 300 mg -> 150 mg
💉Lidocaine 1-1.5 mg/kg -> 0.5-0.75 mg/kg (max 3 mg/kg or 300 mg)
💡Place IV/IO above the diaphragm for med delivery!

5/ Address potential etiologies for cardiac arrest in pregnancy
💉 Anesthetic complications
🩸 Bleeding
🫀 Cardiovascular
💊 Drugs
🩻 Embolic (amniotic fluid or pulmonary embolism)
🤒 Fever
🥼 General causes (H’s & T’s)
🩺 Hypertension (preeclampsia)

4/ Manual LUD is performed by pushing the uterus to the left with hands during CPR to improve venous return and optimize cardiac output. See image A for two-handed technique and image B for one-handed.

Educational AI image of IV access above diaphragm in pregnancy. Created with ChatGPT AI.

3/ Lying flat isn’t harmless in pregnancy. Aortocaval compression can occur when the gravid uterus compresses on the inferior vena cava (IVC). Manual left uterine displacement (LUD) is now the standard in maternal ACLS.

2/ High-quality CPR does not change!
~Continuous compressions (100-120 compressions/minute)
~Minimize interruptions
~Prioritize early advanced airway (1 breath every six seconds)
⚡ Utilize a defibrillator when indicated

1/ Code blue. The patient is 30 weeks pregnant. 🤰 Does ACLS change for pregnant patients? This thread will cover the 2025 AHA ACLS guidelines for pregnancy, highlighting the updates and what remains unchanged.

It's not too late to register for Wednesday's free virtual webinar at 6pm CST! All attendees will qualify for CME.
Claim your spot by emailing SCCMMWC@gmail.com.

Meet the Midwest Chapter's recently elected Secretary, ICU Pharmacist Rebecca Hilton. We had the pleasure of asking Rebecca a few questions. Check out her answers below!

We hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving Holiday weekend with loved ones! 🦃
It is not too late to register for FREE CME by attending Dr. Greenberg's lecture on Shared Decision Making in the ICU.
When: 12/17/25 at 6pm CT
Email SCCMMWC@gmail.com to register & claim your spot!

We are excited to announce our next FREE virtual ICU webinar on December 17 at 6pm CST.
Dr. Jared Greenberg will be discussing Patient Prognosis and decision-making in critically ill patients.
Interested in joining? RSVP by emailing SCCMMWC@gmail.com to claim your spot.

Are you interested in getting more involved with SCCM Midwest Chapter? Great networking opportunity and a chance to gain and share knowledge.
Please complete this short survey and we may be reaching out to you soon!
sccmmidwestchapter.org/survey.php?i...

Our 6th Annual Symposium is off to a great start! We're looking forward to seeing everyone today at Fairbanks Hall in Indianapolis and learning from our wonderful speakers and abstract presenters.

Calling for ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS for our Annual Critical Care Conference! Submit via RedCap by AUGUST 15!
Interested in learning from some incredible critical care speakers and meeting others in the field? Join us September 13 in Indianapolis. Registration: sccmmwc.starchapter.com/meet-reg1.ph...

It's not too late to register for THURSDAY's FREE Virtual Webinar with Dr. Michael Ries. Learn all about Tele-Critical Care and earn some CME!
When: Thursday, July 31 at 6pm CST
RSVP required! Email SCCMMWC@gmail.com to claim your spot.

Register now for the 6th CC Conf in Indianapolis - here is all the info needed- free to members, reduced for trainees and $45 non-member. www.canva.com/design/DAGtR...

Abstracts are due by August 15 at QR.
@pharmacytodose.bsky.social @sccmcriticalcare.bsky.social

14/
Management Recommendations:
● Due to elevated risk, it is recommended to monitor closely for early identification of sepsis and management of multiple-organ dysfunction like AKI and cardiorespiratory decompensation, conditions that often prolong the length of ICU stay.

13/
Pathophysiologic effects related to Sepsis:
● A chronic, low-grade, altered inflammatory state, which triggers a massive inflammatory response to an insult

12/
Management Recommendations:
● Close monitoring is needed for early detection of VTE in obese children and adolescents who have comorbidities and coagulation factor deficiencies.

11/
Pathophysiologic effects related to Venous Thromboembolism:
● High risk for thrombus formation with comorbidities and coagulation factor deficiencies

10/
Pathophysiologic effects on the Renal System:
● AKI
Management Recommendations:
● Early recognition of AKI, prevention of fluid overload, appropriate drug dosing for obesity, and avoidance of nephrotoxic drugs are essential to improve outcomes in obese children with AKI.

9/
● Abnormal ECG in obese children necessitates further investigation to identify cardiac anomalies, as ECG changes are infrequent in this population.
● Delivering high-quality CPR is a cornerstone to improve outcomes in obese children with cardiac arrest.

8/
Management Recommendations:
● Subclinical cardiac dysfunction has been documented in obese adolescents with no hypertension.
● Hypertensive crisis in obese children is most likely from secondary causes.

7/
Pathophysiologic effects on Cardiovascular System:
● Elevated total body volume, plasma volume, cardiac output, and venous return -> causing hyperdynamic circulation + heightened intracardiac filling pressures
● Elevated peripheral resistance and left ventricular afterload