Hospital Medicine Alert – March 1, 2011

March 1, 2011

• Statins Use Proves Safe in Patients with Abnormal Liver-function Tests

  The efficacy of statins in preventing cardiovascular events is well known, but approximately 10% of patients will develop elevations in liver function tests (LFTs).

  Read more

• Is It Safe to Use Etomidate When Intubating Patients With Sepsis or Septic Shock?

  This retrospective cohort study demonstrated that single-dose etomidate administration during rapid-sequence intubation was not associated with adverse outcomes in patients with sepsis or septic shock.

  Read more

• Can We Use Serum Sodium Levels to Prognosticate in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism?

  This retrospective analysis of a large number of patients presenting with pulmonary embolism demonstrated that hyponatremia is common in this condition and is an independent predictor of 30-day mortality and hospital readmission.

  Read more

• The ABCs of Anosognosia for Hemiplegia

  Anosognosia is an important, but often neglected, part of the neurological examination in a patient with stroke.

  Read more

• For Thyroid, Right Medication at the Right Time Makes a Difference

  Clinicians should consider prescribing levothyroxine at bedtime since this study demonstrates significantly improved thyroid hormone levels compared to morning intake.

  Read more