Vinh-Tung Nguyen, MD Archives

News
Postoperative Clostridium Difficile Infection Associated with Number of Antibiotics, Surgical Procedure Complexity
April 8, 2016
Clinical question: What are the factors that increase risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in postoperative patients? Background: CDI has become an important infectious etiology for morbidity, lengthy and costly hospital admissions, and mortality.
News
Most Postoperative Readmissions Due to Patient Factors
April 8, 2016
Clinical question: What is the etiology of 30-day readmissions in postoperative patients? Background: As the focus of healthcare changes to a quality-focused model, readmissions impact physicians, reimbursements, and patients.
News
Ischemic Hepatitis Associated with High Inpatient Mortality
April 4, 2016
Clinical question: What is the incidence and outcome of patients with ischemic hepatitis? Background: Ischemic hepatitis, or shock liver, is often diagnosed in patients with massive increase in aminotransferase levels most often exceeding 1000 IU/L in the setting of hepatic hypoperfusion.
News
AIMS65 Score Helps Predict Inpatient Mortality in Acute Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed
April 1, 2016
Clinical question: Does AIMS65 risk stratification score predict inpatient mortality in patients with acute upper gastrointestinal bleed (UGIB)? Background: Acute UGIB is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which makes it crucial to identify high-risk patients early.
News
No Mortality Benefit to Cardiac Catheterization in Patients with Stable Ischemic Heart Disease
March 28, 2016
Clinical question: Can cardiac catheterization prolong survival in patients with stable ischemic heart disease? Background: Previous results from the COURAGE trial found no benefit of percutaneous intervention (PCI) as compared to medical therapy on a composite endpoint of death or nonfatal myoca
News
Increase in Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics Disproportionate to Rate of Resistant Organisms
March 28, 2016
Clinical question: Have healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) guidelines improved treatment accuracy? Background: Guidelines released in 2005 call for the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for patients presenting with pneumonia who have had recent healthcare exposure.
News
Discontinuing Inhaled Corticosteroids in COPD Reduces Risk of Pneumonia
March 25, 2016
Clinical question: Is discontinuation of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) in patients with COPD associated with a decreased risk of pneumonia? Background: ICSs are used in up to 85% of patients treated for COPD but may be associated with adverse systemic side effects including pneumonia.
News
MEDS Score for Sepsis Might Best Predict ED Mortality
March 25, 2016
Clinical question: Which illness severity score best predicts outcomes in emergency department (ED) patients presenting with infection? Background: Several scoring models have been developed to predict illness severity and mortality in patients with infection.
News
Continuous Chest Compressions Do Not Improve Outcome Compared to Chest Compressions Interrupted for Ventilation
March 18, 2016
Clinical question: In cardiopulmonary resuscitation, do continuous chest compressions improve survival or neurologic outcome compared to chest compressions interrupted for ventilation? Background: Animal models have demonstrated that interruptions in chest compressions are associated with decreas
News
ATRIA Better at Predicting Stroke Risk in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Than CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VAS
March 18, 2016
Clinical question: Does the Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation (ATRIA) risk score more accurately identify patients with atrial fibrillation (Afib) who are at low risk for ischemic stroke than the CHADS2 or CHA2DS2-VASc score? Background: More accurate and reliable stroke ris