This paper reports results from the resynchronization-Defibrillation for Ambulatory Heart Failure Trial (RAFT). This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial testing the hypothesis that addition of resynchronization therapy (CRT) to an ICD, compared to an ICD only in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or class III symptoms, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and a widened QRS complex would improve survival and reduce hospitalizations.
Episodes of severe sepsis in older adults is associated with worsening cognition and functional status.Source: Iwashyna TJ, et al. Long-term cognitive impairment and functional disability among survivors of severe sepsis. JAMA 2010;304:1787-94.
A 74-year retired veterinarian presents to the emergency department (ED) with shortness of breath. He was recently diagnosed with diffuse large-cell lymphoma with prominent abdominal lymphadenopathy and positive bone marrow and has been treated with two cycles of R-CHOP.
In a multicenter study, critically ill patients with initial hyperlactatemia had improved outcomes (including shorter ICU stays and lower adjusted mortality) compared to control patients when they were managed for the first 8 hours with a resuscitation protocol targeted at reducing the lactate level by at least 20% every 2 hours.