"One of the top ten websites in critical care medicine education today"
(Wolbrink et al, Journal of Intensive Care Medicine 2018)

Welcome to LearnPICU! This site contains summaries of core topics in pediatric critical care medicine. It also includes quick medication and equipment references, a collection of procedural videos, a summary of key articles, board-type questions, a survival guide, and more. Whether you are a medical student or a seasoned intensivist, we hope you find the resources here helpful. 


Recent News


October 26 TEAM study (ANZICS group), an RCT of 750 adults undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation, finds no difference in mortality at 180 days (primary outcome) or vent free days in early mobility group. Adverse events potentially due to mobilization also higher in the early mobility group (9.2% vs 4.1%). 

October 26 EXACT trial shows no difference (and possible harm) in randomized trial of 425 adult patients with OHCA and ROSC comparing lower oxygen saturation target of 90-94% vs. control arm of 98-100%. 82 of 214 patients (38.3%) in the intervention group survived to hospital discharge compared with 101 of 211 (47.9%) in the standard care group (difference, −9.6% [95% CI, −18.9% to −0.2%]; unadjusted odds ratio, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.46-1.00]; P = .05).


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The site began as Custer's Core Curriculum and was named in honor of Dr. Joseph Custer, founder of the pediatric intensive care unit at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, a teacher and mentor to countless fellows, residents, and medical students, and who taught us that when it comes down to it, "the air goes in and out and the blood goes round and round."  


Dr. Joseph Custer


We hope you find the site helpful and welcome any comments or suggestions to improve its content and usefulness. Please contact Dr. Kevin Kuo, editor of the site, with any comments, questions, or suggestions.