Alpha blockers more effective for large kidney stones

Researchers report a 57 percent higher risk of stone passage for larger stones with an alpha blocker, but no benefit for smaller stones. Location did not make a difference, nor did type of alpha blocker used.... read more

Adherence to guidelines reduces catheter-associated UTIs

Adherence to CDC guidelines for the placement, maintenance and removal of catheters and American College of Critical Care Medicine and Infectious Disease Society of America guidelines for evaluating fever in a critically... read more

New statin guidelines issued for primary CVD prevention

The United States Preventive Services Task Force have issued new recommendations for the use of statins in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.... read more

Impact of a high loading dose of amikacin in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock

With a loading dose of 30 mg/kg of amikacin, concentration was potentially suboptimal. The pharmacodynamic target (60 mg/L < C max < 80 mg/L) recommended by French guidelines was reached in 41.8% of patients and was... read more

Guidelines for Neuromuscular Blockade in the Adult Critically Ill Patient

The Society of Critical Care Medicine recently released guidelines addressing sustained neuromuscular blockade in the adult critically ill patient.... read more

Treated bacteremia that clears, then recurs, termed 'skip phenomenon'

About 4% of S. aureus bacteremia cases may not clear completely, as judged by one negative blood culture, contrary to recent IDSA guidelines.... read more

New Guidelines for Discontinuing Mechanical Ventilation in the ICU

The goal of the guidelines is to help physicians and other healthcare professionals determine when patients with acute respiratory failure can breathe on their own and to provide clinical advice that may increase the chances... read more

New Treatment Guidelines for Rare Lung Disease

Clinical practice guidelines created for the treatment and diagnosis of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM).... read more