November 30, 2012 |  0
This systematic review found evidence from 7 trials that low risk patients with new acute symptomatic PE may be discharged home from the ED; of 741 patients discharged home, none died, 3 had major bleeding, and 13 had a recurrent PE. Some low risk patients can safety be discharged from the ED with acute symptomatic […]
November 30, 2012 |  0
In this trial of 129 patients with end stage cancer, they were randomized to IV hydration (1 liter a day) or control (100 cc a day), and found no difference between the groups in symptoms of dehydration, delirium, or fatigue, and no difference in survival. This randomized trial does not support the use of IV […]
November 30, 2012 |  0
In this large randomized controlled trial of hospitalized patients, those requiring short term indwelling urinary catheters were randomized to silver-alloy, antibiotic, or control catheter. The rate of symptomatic UTI was 13%, 11%, and 13% respectively, which was not significantly different between the groups. This randomized study does not support the routine use of silver or […]
November 30, 2012 |  0
The FDA has approved the first “egg free” flu vaccine, cultured out of mammalian cells, instead of fertilized chicken eggs (FDA site)
November 30, 2012 |  0
This large observational study of ~125,000 patients on warfarin for Afib found the rate of bleeding to be ~4% per person-year (which is higher than rates reported in randomized controlled trials). Bleeding was highest in the first 30 days (12%), and much higher in the first 30 days in those with a CHADS2 score of […]
November 30, 2012 |  0
In this observational cohort of patients s/p bioprosthetic aortic valve surgery, those on warfarin had significantly lower rates of cardiovascular death, stroke, or thromboemboli, compared to those not on warfarin; these benefits persisted up to 6 months after the surgery. Patients appear to benefit from warfarin for 6 months after bioprosthetic aortic valve surgery (abstract).