Undifferentiated shock in trauma should be assumed to be hemorrhagic until proven otherwise. Hemorrhage represents 30-40% of mortality from trauma and may require significant volume to resuscitate.
Concussion and mild traumatic brain injury have a risk of serious short- and long-term sequelae. Concussion is a trauma-induced alteration in mental status, which does not necessarily involve loss of consciousness.
Ascites, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy and bacterial infections are common complications experienced by patients with cirrhosis. Traditionally, when a cirrhotic patient experiences one of these complications and develops worsening liver function, he or she is diagnosed with acute on chronic liver failure.
In an earlier study of early decompressive hemicraniectomy for large middle cerebral artery strokes, the same investigators demonstrated reduced mortality without increasing the risk of very severe disability among patients ≤ 60 years of age.
After pelvic floor reconstructive surgery, antibiotic prophylaxis with daily nitrofurantoin during postoperative catheterization does not decrease risk of urinary tract infection.
This was a retrospective cohort study from Quebec and Ontario, Canada, examining patients ≥ 65 years of age admitted to a hospital with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) between 1998 and 2007.
Recent controversy has erupted concerning the use of prophylactic beta-blockers in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing non-cardiac surgery.
After caring for patients with Clostridium difficile infection, nearly 25% of health care workers were found to have hand contamination with C. difficile spores.
