FDA approves betrixaban for VTE prophylaxis
Betrixaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, has been approved for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in at-risk adult patients hospitalized with an acute illness, according to an announcement from the Food and Drug Administration.... read more
New Biomarker Improves Early Sepsis Detection in the Emergency Department
Sepsis most often presents to the emergency department (ED), and delayed detection is harmful. The white blood count (WBC) is often used to detect sepsis in the ED. New research shows that volume increases of circulating... read more
Detection of Pulmonary Embolism During Cardiac Arrest
The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the right ventricle is more dilated during resuscitation from cardiac arrest caused by pulmonary embolism, compared with hypoxia and primary arrhythmia. The right ventricle... read more
Evaluation of early antimicrobial therapy adaptation guided by the BetaLACTA test
Rapid diagnostic tests detecting microbial resistance are needed for limiting the duration of inappropriateness of empirical antimicrobial therapy (EAT) in ICU patients, besides reducing the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.... read more
A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Antibiotics for Smaller Skin Abscesses
Uncomplicated skin abscesses are common, yet the appropriate management of the condition in the era of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is unclear. As compared with incision and drainage... read more
WHO Resolution: Recognizing Sepsis as a Global Health Priority
The true burden of disease arising from sepsis remains unknown. The current estimates of 30 million episodes and 6 million deaths per year come from a systematic review that extrapolated from published national or local population... read more
Cardiovascular Testing and Clinical Outcomes in Emergency Department Patients With Chest Pain
In patients who present to the emergency department with chest pain without evidence of ischemia, is cardiac testing - noninvasive testing or coronary angiography - associated with changes in revascularization or acute myocardial... read more
Defending Biomedical Science in an Era of Threatened Funding
Supporting scientific research should be a top priority of any society that aims to make progress and thrive. Reducing funding for research will adversely affect individual and population health. However, mounting pressure... read more
An NIH-Kennedy Center Initiative to Explore Music and the Mind
Music is fundamental to the human species in ways that reach beyond entertainment or pastime. In Musicophilia, Oliver Sacks noted that music can "calm us, animate us, comfort us, thrill us, or serve to organize and synchronize... read more
Data on 211 Million Referrals Shows How Doctors Really Work Together
A peek into the hidden world of medicine reveals some surprising trends. Sometimes it involves the traditional sense of the word - a primary care physician referring a patient to a specialist (like a cardiologist or gastroenterologist)... read more
The Air is Everywhere
A 12-year-old male with a history of mild persistent asthma presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with acute onset of chest pain and a "crackling" feeling along his sternum. Two days prior he was seen by his... read more
Effect of Noninvasive Ventilation Delivered by Helmet vs Face Mask on the Rate of Endotracheal Intubation in Patients With ARDS
Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) with a face mask is relatively ineffective at preventing endotracheal intubation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Delivery of NIV with a helmet may be a superior strategy... read more
Focus on Brain Injury – The Staircase Approach
Focus on brain injury, staircase approach for the treatment of intracranial hypertension after TBI. The development of clinical protocols based on both laboratory and clinical data has underpinned the achievements of neurocritical... read more
Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Major Orthopedic Surgery
Few head-to-head treatment comparisons have sufficient evidence. Most studies evaluated low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), not low-risk interventions (such as aspirin and mechanical devices); most reported on total deep... read more
Boarding ICU patients: Are our rounding practices subpar?
Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) patients "boarding" in ICUs other than the designated home unit have been shown to suffer increased rates of complications. We hypothesized that ICU rounding practices are different... read more
Video Laryngoscopy for Endotracheal Intubation of Critically Ill Adults
Endotracheal intubation (EI) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients is associated with an increased risk of life-threatening adverse events due to unstable conditions, rapid deterioration, limited preparation time, and variability... read more
Withholding Pantoprazole for Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis in Critically Ill Patients
A decreased frequency of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and a possible association of proton pump inhibitor use with Clostridium difficile and ventilator-associated pneumonia have raised concerns recently. The Reevaluating... read more
A Novel Computerized Test for Detecting and Monitoring Visual Attentional Deficits and Delirium in the ICU
Delirium in the ICU is associated with poor outcomes but is under-detected. Here we evaluated performance of a novel, graded test for objectively detecting inattention in delirium, implemented on a custom-built computerized... read more
Sepsis and Therapeutic Interventions
The global burden of sepsis is substantial. Therefore, in a retrospective before-after clinical study, Marik et al compared the outcome and clinical course of consecutive septic patients treated with intravenous vitamin C,... read more
Cluster-Randomized, Crossover Trial of Head Positioning in Acute Stroke
The role of supine positioning after acute stroke in improving cerebral blood flow and the countervailing risk of aspiration pneumonia have led to variation in head positioning in clinical practice. Disability outcomes after... read more
Why a stay in the ICU can leave patients worse off
Almost 6 million patients land in an intensive care unit every year, and for many, it marks a turning point in their lives. A substantial number of patients leave the ICU with newly acquired problems, from dementia to nerve... read more
Simulation of a Novel Schedule for Intensivist Staffing to Improve Continuity of Patient Care and Reduce Physician Burnout
Despite widespread adoption of in-house call for ICU attendings, there is a paucity of research on optimal scheduling of intensivists to provide continuous on-site coverage. Overnight call duties have traditionally been added... read more
