Transthoracic echocardiography: an accurate and precise method for estimating cardiac output in the critically ill patient

Cardiac output (CO) monitoring is a valuable tool for the diagnosis and management of critically ill patients. In the critical care setting, few studies have evaluated the level of agreement between CO estimated by transthoracic... read more

Transthoracic echocardiography: an accurate and precise method for estimating cardiac output in the critically ill patient

Diagnostic Value of Procalcitonin on Early Postoperative Infection After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Procalcitonin was more accurate than C-reactive protein and WBC to predict early postoperative infection, but the diagnostic properties of procalcitonin could not be observed during the first 3 postoperative days due to the... read more

Diagnostic Value of Procalcitonin on Early Postoperative Infection After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Exosomes in Critical Illness

Exosomes are small, cell-released vesicles (40–100 nm in size) with the potential to transfer proteins, lipids, small RNAs, messenger RNAs, or DNA between cells via interstitial fluids. Due to their role in tissue homeostasis,... read more

Exosomes in Critical Illness

New Telestroke Guidelines by American Telemedicine Association

These new telestroke guidelines were developed to assist practitioners in providing assessment, diagnosis, management, and/or remote consultative support to patients exhibiting symptoms and signs consistent with an acute... read more

New Telestroke Guidelines by American Telemedicine Association

Integrating Advance Care Planning into Practice

Advanced respiratory diseases progress over time and often lead to death. As their condition worsens, patients may lose medical decision making ability. Advance care planning (ACP) is a process in which patients receive information... read more

Integrating Advance Care Planning into Practice

MRI in Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has high specificity but limited sensitivity for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE), according to a systematic review published in the journal Thrombosis Research. Given these inconclusive... read more

MRI in Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis

Visual Aids for Infectious Disease Diagnoses

Learning the hallmarks of proper diagnosis requires using all of our senses: hearing, to listen to a patient’s symptoms; touch, to probe an infection site; and occasionally smell, to qualitatively determine infection characteristics... read more

Biopsy first: Lessons learned from CALGB 140503

In a carefully monitored cohort of patients with suspected small NSCLC <2 cm, a substantial number are misdiagnosed (benign nodules) or understaged. These patients may not have benefited from a thoracic surgical procedure.... read more

Biopsy first: Lessons learned from CALGB 140503

Seizures Prior to Diagnosis of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Seizures were a condition commonly experienced by patients prior to diagnosis of TSC; understanding the initial diagnoses experienced by TSC patients may help lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of TSC. Many patients... read more

Seizures Prior to Diagnosis of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Fibromyalgia as marker for seizures less reliable

The specificity of fibromyalgia as a marker for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures is less reliable than previously described, results from a large analysis showed. Fibromyalgia may not be as reliable a clinical indicator... read more

Fibromyalgia as marker for seizures less reliable

CT said to be 'effective gatekeeper' for coronary angiography

Study found the length of stay was shortened by 22.9 hours with CT, and patients preferred noninvasive testing.... read more

CT said to be 'effective gatekeeper' for coronary angiography

Use of interventions improves patient care for viral hepatitis

Researchers recommend multiple, inexpensive interventions be included in screening, diagnosis and treatment programs for patients with hepatitis B and C viruses, in an effort to optimize the outcomes of hepatitis care.... read more

What goes into the first aid kit of the future?

A revolution is taking place in the recesses of bathroom mirrors and pantry cabinets as a new wave of gadgets expand our conception of the First Aid Kit.... read more

What goes into the first aid kit of the future?

Signatures of Subacute Potentially Catastrophic Illness in the ICU

The severity of the original insult often determines prognosis, and the risk of death is further increased by events that occur during the stay, such as acute respiratory failure, sepsis, and hemorrhage. These new insults... read more

Signatures of Subacute Potentially Catastrophic Illness in the ICU