Randomised trials role in surgery

In medical science, as in all walks of life, we are impressed by dramatic effects.  If a new treatment seems much better than an old one initially, there is often impatience to get on and use it, and people question why... read more

Randomised trials role in surgery

Improving Appropriate Neurologic Prognostication after Cardiac Arrest

A multicenter quality intervention improved rates of appropriate neurologic prognostication after OHCA but did not increase survival with good neurologic outcome. This was a pragmatic stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled... read more

Improving Appropriate Neurologic Prognostication after Cardiac Arrest

Neuroprotective Effects of the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analog Exenatide After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Acute administration of exenatide to comatose patients in the ICU after OHCA is feasible and safe. Exenatide did not reduce neuron-specific enolase levels and did not significantly improve a composite end point of death and... read more

Neuroprotective Effects of the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Analog Exenatide After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Dexmedetomidine Use in Critically-Ill Children with Acute Respiratory Failure

Margaret Parker, MD, MCCM, speaks with Mary Jo C. Grant, APRN, PhD, about the article, "Dexmedetomidine Use in Critically-Ill Children with Acute Respiratory Failure," published in the December 2016 issue of Pediatric... read more

Short-term Effects of High-Dose Caffeine on Cardiac Arrhythmias in Patients With Heart Failure

This randomized clinical trial evaluates the short-term effects of high-dose caffeine consumption vs placebo in patients with heart failure at increased risk for arrhythmic events. After 500 mg of caffeine administered over... read more

Short-term Effects of High-Dose Caffeine on Cardiac Arrhythmias in Patients With Heart Failure

Pulmaquin Looks Promising for Treating Lung Infections in Non-CF Bronchiectasis Patients

Aradigm has announced top-line results from two Phase 3 clinical trials of Pulmaquin (inhaled ciprofloxacin) for the treatment of patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (non-CF BE) who have chronic lung infections... read more

Pulmaquin Looks Promising for Treating Lung Infections in Non-CF Bronchiectasis Patients

Benefits of PCI for STEMI Not Attenuated in Patients With a Cancer History

Having a history of cancer does not worsen outcomes for patients with STEMI who undergo primary PCI and should not be a barrier to revascularization and optimal therapy.... read more

Benefits of PCI for STEMI Not Attenuated in Patients With a Cancer History

Apnoeic oxygenation via high-flow nasal cannula oxygen combined with non-invasive ventilation preoxygenation for intubation in hypoxaemic patients in the intensive care unit

A novel strategy for preoxygenation in hypoxaemic patients, adding HFNC for apnoeic oxygenation to NIV prior to orotracheal intubation, may be more effective in reducing the severity of oxygen desaturation than the reference... read more

Apnoeic oxygenation via high-flow nasal cannula oxygen combined with non-invasive ventilation preoxygenation for intubation in hypoxaemic patients in the intensive care unit

Recruitment manoeuvres for adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome receiving mechanical ventilation

Ten trials met the inclusion criteria for this review (n = 1658 participants). We found five trials to be at low risk of bias and five to be at moderate risk of bias.... read more

Recruitment manoeuvres for adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome receiving mechanical ventilation

Vasopressin vs. norepinephrine for vasoplegic shock after cardiac surgery

Patients in the VANISH trial treated with vasopressin had a lower incidence of renal failure requiring hemodialysis. However, this was a secondary endpoint which seemed to contradict the primary endpoint (defined as a milder... read more

Vasopressin vs. norepinephrine for vasoplegic shock after cardiac surgery

PCSK9 Inhibition and Other New Therapies for Lipid Modification: Good News and Bad

A late-breaking clinical trial session devoted to newly approved and investigational compounds for the treatment of lipids highlighted the end of a once promising therapy for low HDL cholesterol.... read more

PCSK9 Inhibition and Other New Therapies for Lipid Modification: Good News and Bad

Potentially modifiable factors contributing to outcome from acute respiratory distress syndrome: the LUNG SAFE study

Higher PEEP, lower peak, plateau, and driving pressures, and lower respiratory rate are associated with improved survival from ARDS.... read more

Potentially modifiable factors contributing to outcome from acute respiratory distress syndrome: the LUNG SAFE study

Long-Term Oxygen for COPD with Moderate Desaturation

The prescription of long-term supplemental oxygen did not result in a longer time to death or first hospitalization than no long-term supplemental oxygen in patients with stable COPD.... read more

Long-Term Oxygen for COPD with Moderate Desaturation

Glyburide Promising for Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Although the study did not demonstrate efficacy of glyburide, differences were seen in the amount midline shift at 3-4 days. In the current study, 86 patients with large (82-300 cc) anterior circulation stroke were randomized... read more

Glyburide Promising for Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke