-
Sleep disordered breathing occurs in most acute stroke patients and may contribute to morbidity
-
This meta-analysis of studies examining the efficacy of systemic corticosteroids for preventing laryngeal edema following extubation concludes that this treatment is effective. This result differs from those of several previous meta-analyses, and raises practical issues such as whether extubation should be delayed for at least 12 hours after a patient passes a spontaneous breathing trial and qualifies for extubation so that a course of steroids can be given.
-
Ray et al examined the computerized files of Tennessee Medicaid recipients to estimate the effects of atypical antipsychotic drugs on the risk of sudden cardiac death.
-
The ACC/AHA guidelines recommend perioperative beta blockers for those already on them, patients undergoing vascular surgery, or those having intermediate- to high-risk surgery with established coronary heart disease, or at high risk of having it. However, recent studies have shown no beneficial effect of perioperative beta blockers and potential for harm.
-
Optimal management of transmural myocardial infarction (MI) depends on rapid reperfusion of the occluded infarct artery. Therefore, accurate early diagnosis is the cornerstone of initial patient assessment in the emergency department.
-
In this large epidemiology study using a previous survey and 2004 Medicare data focusing on serious infections in the ICU, hospitals with dedicated ICU clinical pharmacists had lower ICU mortality rates, shorter ICU stays, and reduced charges.
-
This open-label, multicenter trial showed that treatment of MRSA ventilator-associated pneumonia with linezolid was associated with non-statistically significant improvements in microbiologic cure, clinical cure, survival, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ICU length of stay when compared to therapy with vancomycin.
-
With the largest cohort and longest follow-up yet reported, this prospective single-center study found that implementing a rapid response team reduced codes outside the ICU but had no effect on either hospital-wide code rates or overall patient mortality.
-
This study, done at a tertiary care university hospital here in the U.S., was initiated in an attempt to improve patient safety, conserve a vital resource, and reduce costs a laudable tripartite goal.
-
Each year when I lecture the incoming cardiology fellows on the management of non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS), we embark on a discussion of optimal guideline-driven treatment vs. real-world practicalities.
