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Early antibiotic administration was associated with reduced likelihood of death, mechanical ventilation, and readmission (but increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection) among patients hospitalized for acute exacerbations of COPD.
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This randomized, multicenter trial showed no differences in 28-day mortality in patients with shock who received either norepinephrine or dopamine, but did reveal a higher incidence of arrhythmia in the dopamine-treated group.
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Asymptomatic pulmonary embolism is quite common among patients with deep venous thrombosis. In many instances in these patients, the pulmonary emboli are located within the central pulmonary arteries.
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Bilateral absence of N20 responses in the setting of therapeutic hypothermia does not preclude neurologic recovery in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest.
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The presence of cerebral complications of infective endocarditis (IE) can affect diagnostic and treatment decisions. Thus, this group from Paris, France, evaluated whether early cerebral MRI would affect the diagnosis and management of hospitalized patients suspected of having IE.
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In this before-after study in a surgical ICU, addition to the daily physician worksheet of a red box requiring the checking of "yes" or "no" to continued need for central venous and urinary catheters was associated with a significant reduction in the duration of catheterization.
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Superficial venous thrombosis is not a benign condition and deserves close attention.
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Although age is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality with cardiac surgery, chronologic age does not always reflect biological age. Although frailty has been shown to predict falls, hospitalization, institutionalization, and mortality in geriatric populations in the community, it has not been systematically studied in patients undergoing surgery.
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This two-phase, prospective, multicenter study demonstrated that implementation of an intubation management protocol reduced the incidence of severe hypoxemia and cardiovascular collapse during endotracheal intubation when compared to standard practice, but did not improve other patient outcomes such as ICU mortality or duration of mechanical ventilation.
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In a prospective, observational study, > 50% of patients identified and treated for severe sepsis in the emergency department (ED) had negative cultures; 18% of patients had a noninfectious diagnosis that mimicked sepsis.
