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Reversible myocardial dysfunction may be much more common in critical illness than has been generally appreciated.
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Synopsis: In this small study, differences in the respiratory rate to tidal volume ratio (RTVR) after 1 hour of spontaneous breathing with ATC were a good predictor of whether patients would remain extubated or require reintubation. But was it really better than other tests?
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The FDA has mandated a Black Box warning for all estrogen and estrogen/progestin products for use by postmenopausal women. The new warnings are based on analysis of data from the Womens Health Initiative (WHI) study that was published July 2002.
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Synopsis: Physicians rated the quality of ICU care higher than nurses, and these health care providers opionions did not correlate with those of patients. Patients perceived satisfaction with their care waas rated higher by physicians than by either nurses or patients.
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In the United States, physicians trained in internal medicine provide a substantial portion of the care of critically ill patients.
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Of 26 mechanically ventilated patients, 22 developed bacterial lower respiratory tract colonization, and in 15 patients anaerobes were recovered; 2 of 5 patients diagnosed with ventilator-associated pneumonia had anaerobes present in sufficient quantity to suggest that they were considered pathogenic.
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The FDA has approved vardenafil (LevitraBayer and GlaxoSmithKline) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. Vardenafil joins sildenafil (Viagra) as the only 2 drugs approved for this indication in this country.
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Specialty beds marketed for ICU patients range from simple air-filled mattresses designed for use on ordinary hospital beds to high-tech, electronically controlled rotating or vibrating devices.
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The ARDSNetwork trial that began in 1996 (ARMA trial)1 was designed to test the validity of using lower tidal volumes in mechanical ventilators was halted because critics who were not a part of the ARDSNetwork argued that the control arm chosen was harmful and unethical.