Critical Care Pharmacy Handbook

Introduction

The Clinical Pharmacy Working Committee (Critical Care Pharmacy Subspecialty) published the first Critical Care Pharmacy Handbook in 2013.

• This handbook has served as a valuable, quick and comprehensive reference guide since its initial publication.
• In 2020, a second edition of the handbook was released.

NOTE: It is somewhat surprising to consider that the local pharmacy references heavily relied upon during provisional registered pharmacist training have now been updated to newer editions.

FAST HUGS BID

In 2005, Jean-Louis Vincent introduced the "FAST HUG" mnemonic as a means of identifying and checking some of the key aspects in the general care of all critically ill patients.

• Feeding
• Analgesia
• Sedation
• Thromboembolic prophylaxis
• Head-of-bed elevation
• stress Ulcer prevention
• Glucose control

This was subsequently updated to "FAST HUGS BID" mnemonic by Vincent and Hatton.

• Feeding
• Analgesia
• Sedation
• Thromboembolic prophylaxis
• Head-up
• Ulcer prophylaxis
• Glycaemic control
• Spontaneous breathing trial
• Bowel movement
• Indwelling catheter
• Drug de-escalation

Summary

Two additional valuable resources for critical care in Malaysia are:

• ICU Management Protocols, 2023
• Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy in the Adult ICU, 2023

External Links

• Give your patient a fast hug (at least) once a day, 2005
  
• Critically ill patients need "FAST HUGS BID" (an updated mnemonic), 2009
  
• A Standardized, Structured Approach to Identifying Drug-Related Problems in the Intensive Care Unit: FASTHUG-MAIDENS, 2011
  
• FAST HUGS BID: Modified Mnemonic for Surgical Patient, 2017
  
• Critical Care Pharmacy Handbook, 2020