Category Archives: Cardiology

Machines better for CPR

Posted on May 18, 2013 by dscheurer

This meta-analysis of 12 studies of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest found that machine-delivered CPR was associated with ~1.5 times the odds of return of spontaneous circulation compared to human CPR. This may also be true for in-hospital arrest but needs further … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiology, Pulmonary and Critical Care | Leave a comment

Continue warfarin for pacer/ICD procedures

Posted on May 11, 2013 by dscheurer

In this trial of patients on warfarin undergoing a pacer/ICD procedure, they were randomized to continue warfarin perioperatively, or receive heparin bridge therapy. The study was stopped early when the heparin group suffered 4 times more device pocket hematomas than … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiology, Hematology and Oncology | Leave a comment

CABG vs PCI: depends on the patient

Posted on April 27, 2013 by dscheurer

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).

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Perioperative beta blockers

Posted on April 27, 2013 by dscheurer

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 … Continue reading →

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Calculator assists with determining risk-benefit of ASA

Posted on April 6, 2013 by dscheurer

This online risk calculator can help clinicians weigh the risks and benefits of ASA for individual patients (calculator).

Posted in Cardiology, GI | Comments Off

Management practices affect patient outcomes

Posted on March 23, 2013 by dscheurer

In this large cohort of hospitals, researchers assessed the association between management practices (standardizing care, tracking key performance indicators, setting targets, and incentivizing employees) and process and outcome measures in patients with AMI. They found a significant correlation between high … Continue reading →

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Spironolactone in diastolic dysfunction

Posted on March 2, 2013 by dscheurer

This randomized trial found in patients with Stage 2-3 diastolic dysfunction, spironolactone improved diastolic dysfunction, but had no effect on symptoms, exercise capacity, or quality of life; and it was associated higher potassium levels and lower GFR. The current weight … Continue reading →

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Mild therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest

Posted on March 2, 2013 by dscheurer

This meta-analysis found that mild therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest is both safe and effective and should be standard practice (abstract).

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Any beta blocker for systolic CHF will do

Posted on February 24, 2013 by dscheurer

This large meta-analysis found a significant mortality benefit for all beta blockers in patients with systolic CHF, with no significant differences between the different types, indicating any beta blocker will do (abstract).

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Careful QTc monitoring with fluoroquinolone-azole combinations

Posted on February 24, 2013 by dscheurer

This small retrospective single center cohort found that 22% of patients on combination fluoroquinolone-azole drugs had clinically significant prolongation of their QT interval. Careful monitoring should be done for patients on this combination of drugs (abstract).

Posted in Cardiology, ID | Comments Off