Monthly Archives: June 2012

This trial of ~100 patients with malignant pleural effusions found pleural catheters and chest tube with talc pleurodesis were equally effective in reducing dyspnea in patients with malignant pleural effusions, with no difference in quality of life. Either of these options is reasonable in patients who need dyspnea relief with malignant pleural effusions (abstract)

In this trial of women with acute pyelonephritis, randomized to 7 or 14 days of ciprofloxacin, clinical cure was the same in both groups (96% and 97%). This should be a reasonable duration of treatment for women with pyelonephritis with an organism sensitive to ciprofloxacin, but should not be extrapolated to other antibiotics (abstract)

In this trial of patients with left-sided endocarditis, large vegetations, and severe valve disease, they were randomized to early surgical intervention, or conventional (antibiotic) therapy. The surgical group had significantly lower risk of the combined outcome (death, embolic event, recurrent) at 6months, compared to the conventional group (3% vs 28%, hazard ration 0.08, 95% CI […]

In this comprehensive systematic review, different medication reconciliation strategies were evaluated, and found that medication reconciliation consistently reduces medication discrepancies, potential adverse drug events, and adverse drug events. The most successful interventions utilized heavy involvement of pharmacists, and targeted high risk patients. Medication reconciliation programs should at least incorporate these evidence based strategies to reduce […]

The United States government, for all its exasperating foibles and silliness, retains the capacity to surprise and even delight. Five years ago, who could have guessed that we would elect a centrist African-American president with a middle name of Hussein. Three years ago, who could have guessed that our deeply divided Congress would pass ambitious […]

In this large retrospective analysis of patients discharged from the ED with syncope, 30 day mortality was independently associated with older age (>60), CHF, seizures, diabetes, and dementia. Close follow up is advised when discharging patients with syncope and these risk factors (abstract)