St Vincent's Melbourne ICU

2026 SVHM Basic Assessment & Support in Intensive Care (BASIC) Courses

Posted January 6, 2026January 6, 2026 Ken SakuraiLeave a commentPosted in Blog, Education, News, Uncategorised

BASIC is an internationally recognised two-day course that teaches participants to assess critically ill patients and to provide initial treatment and organ support. It forms an integral component of foundation education in critical care medicine. Topics covered include:*Assessment of the critically ill patient*Airway management*Acute respiratory failure and Mechanical ventilation*Arterial blood gases*Trauma*Neurological emergencies*Acute renal failure and*Metabolic […]

2026 SVHM Echocardiography Courses

Posted January 6, 2026January 6, 2026 Ken SakuraiLeave a commentPosted in Blog, Education, News, Uncategorised

Dates for 2026 have now been released! This two-day course aims to help participants achieve competence in performing and interpreting transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in the critical care setting.With 6-8 weeks of preparation using the outstanding University of Melbourne Transthoracic Echocardiography Simulator Course, that culminates in a two-day intensive workshop held at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne […]

Sleep and sleep disorders

Posted November 23, 2020November 23, 2020 Steven MuscaLeave a commentPosted in Blog, Education

This presentation covers normal and disordered sleep by Respiratory Physician and Intensivist A/Prof John Santamaria.

Statistics series: One

Posted November 11, 2020November 11, 2020 Steven MuscaLeave a commentPosted in Blog, Education, Statistics

This is part one of an excellent introduction to statistics series presented by ICU Director A/Prof John Santamaria.

Blood gas case 1: renal failure and type 1 diabetes

Posted August 25, 2020November 11, 2020 Justin Rheese2 CommentsPosted in Blog, Blood gas interpretation, Education

Peer reviewed by Dr Steven Musca and Dr Patricia Hurune Case details 55 year old male with known ESRF presented to hospital with shortness of breath after missing haemodialysis (HDx). PMHx: CKD-5D (HDx 3x/wk via AV fistula), T1DM, HTN VBG on presentation: VBG Parameter Patient Value Normal Range pH 7.13* 7.31 – 7.41 pCO2 43mmHg […]

COVID-19: useful links and local initiatives

Posted April 12, 2020October 4, 2021 Steven MuscaLeave a commentPosted in Blog, Education, News

In a world of information overload, this post is intended to provide ICU staff with links to certifiable COVID-19 information that is being updated regularly. Both general information and St Vincent’s Melbourne ICU specific information is provided. This information will be updated as best possible (last update 4-10-2021). Please notify of any areas to be […]

Proning for respiratory failure in a crisis (such as a pandemic)

Posted March 19, 2020June 20, 2022 Steven Musca6 CommentsPosted in Blog, Education

Post updated 20-6-2022 Minimum staff and resources listed below, more can be utilised based on availability or need. Consider this as a streamlined technique and supplement to the existing SVHM ICU ‘Prone positioning in ARDS 2018’ protocol rather than a replacement. Quick links: Proning: 1:48 (click time to move to this part of video on […]