Hospital Medicine Alert – September 1, 2011
September 1, 2011
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Cardiac Rehab Improves Outcomes After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
The benefits of cardiac rehabilitation following myocardial infarction (MI) are well known. However, whether these benefits are also seen in ambulant community-based patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is not known. -
Patients/Surrogates Vastly Overrate Likelihood of Survival after Cardiac Arrest
Most (83%) patients/surrogates stated they preferred full code status but only 4% could identify the components of CPR; 16% stated preferences that differed with the medical record. -
Low Tidal Volume Ventilation in the Absence of Acute Lung Injury: A Study in Post-Cardiac Surgery Patients
This randomized study of low-tidal-volume ventilation during and after cardiac surgery, in comparison to ventilation with tidal volumes of 10 mL/kg predicted body weight, showed no differences in median ventilation time but higher rates of extubation by 6 and 8 hours postoperatively and fewer reintubations in the low-tidal-volume group. -
Diagnosis of Thoracic Aorta Dissection
Using an algorithm based on score and chest X-ray when appropriate, the overall sensitivity for the detection of aortic dissection was 96%. -
How Many Days of Ceftriaxone Is Enough for Meningitis?
Standard therapy for bacterial meningitis in children is probably overkill but it is risky to cut back in resource-rich countries. -
E. coli, Europe, and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
In recent months, Escherichia coli O104:H4 has infected more than 4,000 people and caused 880 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in Europe, with the majority of cases reported in Germany and with more recent outbreaks in France and Switzerland. Travelers should implement food hygiene precautions to prevent infection when visiting Europe.