Update in hospital medicine: Studies likely to affect inpatient practice in 2011.

Link to article at PubMed

Update in hospital medicine: Studies likely to affect inpatient practice in 2011.

Cleve Clin J Med. 2011 Jul;78(7):430-4

Authors: Jaffer AK

Key points Dabigatran (Pradaxa) will likely start to replace warfarin (Coumadin) both to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and to prevent recurrent venous thromboembolism. Using a checklist during insertion of central venous catheters can decrease the rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit. The overall survival rate of patients who undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the intensive care unit is approximately 16%; the rate is lower in patients who are receiving pressor drugs and higher in those with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Patients lacking follow-up with a primary care physician within 30 days of discharge are at high risk of readmission and have a trend for longer length of hospital stay. Preoperative stress testing for patients undergoing noncardiac surgery should be done selectively, ie, in patients at high risk.

PMID: 21724926 [PubMed - in process]

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