Our January conference in Las Vegas was well attended and well recieved. People love coming to this destination. It has so much to offer. A walk down the street to take in a few sights is quite an experience–come along! Eiffel…
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Cardiac troponin assays have gone through a tremendous evolution since they were introduced into clinical labs in 1995 until the most recent ultra-sensitive assays became prevalent in 2007. The original troponin T (TnT) and troponin I (TnI) assays had a…
Read MoreMore Tags – beta-lactam antibiotics, critical illness, HPC updates, sepsis, septic shock, severe sepsis
The bactericidal activity of antibiotics depends on the class of antibiotic used. Some antibiotics like vancomycin, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones are dose-dependent for their bactericidal activity. Other antibiotics like beta-lactam antibiotics are time-dependent antibiotics which depend on maintaining drug concentrations above…
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More Articles – Emergency Procedures, Hematology, Medical General, medical procedures, Respiratory diseases
Although pulmonary embolism (PE) occasionally presents with syncope, patients with syncope are infrequently assessed for PE. In this prospective study from Italy, researchers determined the prevalence of PE in 560 elderly adults (mean age, 76) who were hospitalized for their…
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Lumbar puncture (LP), commonly performed in infants to rule out meningitis, is often not successful in the hands of inexperienced operators. Investigators conducted a study of 128 infants younger than 6 months. They compared traditional LP to LP preceded by…
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In Australia, investigators analyzed 573 random adults from three emergency departments (EDs). These patients were to receive ketofol (a 1:1 mixture of ketamine and propofol) or propofol prior to a painful procedure. Initially, ketofol was administered intravenously at 0.25 mg/kg…
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After three defibrillation attempts, recommendations state that amiodarone or lidocaine may be considered for patients with cardiac arrest and persistent shockable rhythm. A randomized, controlled trial was conducted and showed there was no significant difference between amiodarone and lidocaine and…
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At the moment it is legal to practice euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (PAS) in the following countries: Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Colombia, and Canada. PAS only (excludes euthanasia), is allowed in Switzerland and the following five U.S. states: Oregon, Washington, Montana,…
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United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends the following as guidelines for imaging and transfusion in trauma: Key Recommendations Use CT early and liberally in adults with major trauma, even omitting plain films and the focused…
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Las Vegas in the Summer Our second trip to Vegas this year was great. Our conference was held at Planet Hollywood Resort, July 23rd and 24th. The summertime crowds had the casino buzzing and Britney was playing in every elevator. It was electric!…
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More Tags – Alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, HPC updates, Nonalcoholic liver disease, readmission
Patients diagnosed with cirrhosis are regularly admitted and readmitted to the hospital. Statistics show that the 90-day readmission rate is approximately 50%. A recent study analyzed the rate of readmission at 30-days and 90-days and the relevant causes among patients…
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Complications from long-term deep sedation and the lack of adequate pain control for mechanically ventilated intensive care unit (ICU) patients has resulted in the development of sedation protocols emphasizing pain control over sedation. These protocols use either remifentanyl or fentanyl.…
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Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is defined by the triad of obesity (BMI >30 kg/m2), daytime hypoventilation (Paco2 >45 mm Hg), and sleep-disordered breathing in the absence of other causes of hypercapnia, such as severe obstructive lung disease, severe interstitial lung…
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Targeting to 88%–92% did not cause harm. There is little data on ventilator weaning when it comes to oxygenation goals. Many intensivists adjust the ventilator to maintain an oxygen saturation of at least 95% to buffer against desaturation. However, there…
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Hospital Procedures Consultants went back to the Windy City. Chicago is a great place to host a conference as it offers a vast amount of things to see and do. For starters, Chicago is home to the second oldest baseball…
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