Critical Care Guidelines

See evidence-based guidance for caring for critically ill patients during pandemics, as well as methods for liberating patients from mechanical ventilation.

Guideline in Focus

Liberation From Mechanical Ventilation in Critically Ill Adults

January 2017

CHEST and the American Thoracic Society have collaborated to provide guidance to clinicians concerning liberation from mechanical ventilation, including recommendations for inspiratory pressure augmentation during an initial spontaneous breathing trial, protocols minimizing sedation, and preventative noninvasive ventilation.

More critical care guidelines

Care of the Critically Ill and Injured During Pandemics and Disasters (October 2014)

Natural disasters, industrial accidents, terrorist attacks, and pandemics all have the capacity to result in large numbers of critically ill or injured patients. This CHEST consensus statement series provides suggestions for all of those involved in a disaster or pandemic with multiple critically ill patients, including frontline clinicians, hospital administrators, professional societies, and public health or government officials.