Hospital Medicine Alert
RSSArticles
-
The Choosing Wisely ® Top 5 List in Critical Care Medicine
he Choosing Wisely Campaign was introduced in 2011 by the American Board of Internal Medicine to identify practices and procedures physicians and patients should question. The critical care top 5 list was developed through a collaborative effort of several critical care societies. -
Patent Foramen Ovale Does Not Confer a Higher Risk of Recurrent Events in Cryptogenic Stroke
Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is common in both the general population, as well as in patients with cryptogenic stroke, with an estimated prevalence somewhere between 15-35%. Recurrent neurovascular events, both recurrent ischemic stroke as well as transient ischemic attacks, are frequent in these patients, but it is not clear whether patients with PFOs have an increased rate of recurrent events compared to those patients who do not have PFOs. -
Aspirin for the Prevention of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism
This article originally appeared in the November 29, 2014, issue of Internal Medicine Alert. It was edited by Stephen A. Brunton, MD, and peer reviewed by Gerald Roberts, MD. Dr. Brunton is Adjunct Clinical Professor, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Dr. Roberts is Senior Attending Physician, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, NS/LIJ Health Care System, New Hyde Park, NY. -
The New Guidelines Put C. difficile on the Run
SYNOPSIS: Patients have decreased disease recurrence and mortality when physicians follow the IDSA/Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America guidelines for the treatment of C difficile infection.
-
Nasal High-Flow Oxygen Lowers Reintubation Rate
SYNOPSIS: Use of nasal high-flow oxygen was associated with better comfort, fewer desaturations and interface displacements, and a lower reintubation rate.
-
Can We Reduce Unnecessary Head CT Scans in Patients with Delirium?
This study was a retrospective review of medical records of hospitalized general medicine patients with head CT imaging performed for the evaluation of delirium. -
Health Care Utilization in the Aftermath of Severe Sepsis
SYNOPSIS: This observational cohort study of survivors of severe sepsis found that the post-discharge needs of this population are substantial. Severe sepsis survivors spent more days admitted to facilities after their acute hospitalization than prior and had greater mortality, a steeper decline in days at home, and a greater increase in proportion of days alive in a facility compared to survivors of non-sepsis hospitalizations.
-
Peri-procedural Management of New Oral Anticoagulants
Due to the short half-life and rapid onset of action of the new oral anticoagulants (NOACs), peri-procedural anticoagulant free time intervals should be shorter than with warfarin. Thus, there is uncertainty about the use of heparin bridging. These investigators from Germany analyzed the Dresden NOAC registry data to assess peri-procedural NOAC management and safety until 30 days post-procedure. -
New Drug for Atrial Arrhythmias
Dronedarone was significantly more effective than placebo in maintaining sinus rhythm and in reducing the ventricular rate during recurrence of arrhythmia. -
Delayed Transfer to the ICU Increases LOS and Mortality
Critically ill emergency department patients with a ≥ 6 hour delay in ICU transfer had an increased hospital length of stay and higher ICU and hospital mortality.