-
-
-
In this issue: FDA warnings for existing drugs dominate pharmaceutical news this month.
-
Previous work demonstrates that selective gut decontamination decreases the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), but the practice has been limited by concerns about promoting antibiotic resistance.
-
De Jong and colleagues in The Netherlands conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical study of intravenous vs oral corticosteroids in the treatment of patients hospitalized because of an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
-
Multiple recent studies have demonstrated that red blood cell (RBC) transfusion may be deleterious to critically ill patients, as it has been found to be associated with increased mortality following coronary artery bypass surgery, increased rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia and worse outcomes in patients with burn injury and trauma.
-
In an attempt to enhance what it considered a sluggish nationwide response to the Institute of Medicine's calls for reducing error and improving patient outcomes in hospital care, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) initiated in 2004 an ambitious, highly visible, 18-month program.
-
-
The term "dementia" refers to central nervous system (CNS) pathology that makes it hard for a person to remember, learn, and communicate. It may also involve perception, emotional behavior, and cognitive skills. Usually, dementia presents as forgetfulness, but may eventually lead to disruptive behavior.
-
The management of patients with significant carotid artery disease, who need coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), especially if the carotid disease is asymptomatic, is controversial. In the absence of randomized trials, this report of carotid artery stenting followed by CABG in 356 patients with severe asymptomatic carotid disease is of interest.