Critical Care Alert – December 1, 2004
December 1, 2004
View Issues
-
Should Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes Receive Blood Transfusions?
Post hoc analysis of 3 large multicenter trials of patients with acute coronary syndromes demonstrates a strong association between transfusion and mortality. -
Has ICU Transfusion Practice Changed in the Past Decade?
This multicenter prospective observational study reveals that transfusion practice in the critically ill has not changed in the past decade. 44% of ICU patients receive transfusions, and transfusions continue to be associated with worse clinical outcomes. -
Special Feature: Brain Natriuretic Peptide in the ICU
Brain natriuretic peptide (bnp), also called b-type natriuretic peptide, is mainly secreted by the cardiac ventricles during increased ventricular wall stress. BNP plasma concentration provides important information on the prognosis in patients with heart failure, myocardial infarction, and acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation. -
Pharmacology Watch: ACE Inhibitors and Receptor Blockers: Which is Inferior?
The Infection Risk of Acid-Suppressing Drugs; Is Rosuvastatin As Safe As Other Statins?; Which Estrogen Preparation is the Safest?; FDA Actions. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement