April 29, 2013 |  15
Everybody hates curbside consults – the informal, “Hey, Joe, how would you treat asymptomatic pyuria in my 80-year-old nursing home patient?”-type questions that dominate those Doctor’s Lounge conversations that aren’t about sports, Wall Street, or ObamaCare. Consultants hate being asked clinical questions out of context; they know that they may give incorrect advice if the […]
April 28, 2013 |  3
Remember this?  Ezra Klein does, and so do I:
April 27, 2013 |  0
This large randomized trial found lower mortality with CABG (vs PCI) in patients with diabetes, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, or tobacco use; but those with none of these risk factors had lower mortality with PCI (abstract).
April 27, 2013 |  0
New updated guidelines provide guidance for what to do when a solitary pulmonary nodule is discovered on imaging. Among the recommendations: Obtain prior imaging; stability over 2 years does not require any further follow up. If no prior imaging for solid nodules <8mm, follow the Fleischner Society guidelines; if solid >8mm assess risk of cancer […]
April 27, 2013 |  0
This large retrospective analysis of VA medical centers found that patients who received perioperative beta blockers (for noncardiac surgery) had significantly lower 30 day mortality if their revised cardiac risk index was 2 or higher. This study adds more evidence base to the practice of continuing or starting perioperative beta blockers in those with a […]
April 27, 2013 |  0
This single center trial randomized elderly (age >75) inpatients to usual care, or to a team which specialized in the care of the elderly; those in the latter group were less likely to experience adverse events (10% vs 17%) and had shorter LOS (by 0.8 days). There was no difference in readmission rates (abstract). Another study […]