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How Should a Patient with Pulmonary Hypertension Be Evaluated, Managed?
June 1, 2015
Case A 62-year-old female with no significant past medical history presents with three weeks of progressive dyspnea on exertion and bilateral lower extremity edema. Family members report that the patient often snores and “gasps for air” during sleep.
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D-Dimer Not Reliable Marker to Stop Anticoagulation Therapy
May 5, 2015
Clinical question: In patients with a first unprovoked VTE, is it safe to use a normalized D-dimer test to stop anticoagulation therapy? Background: The risk of VTE recurrence after stopping anticoagulation is higher in patients who have elevated D-dimer levels after treatment.
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Noninvasive Ventilation Improves Outcomes for COPD Inpatients
May 5, 2015
Clinical question: Do patients hospitalized with acute COPD exacerbations have improved outcomes with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) compared to those treated with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV)? Background: Previous studies have shown that in select patients, NIV has a mortality benefit ov
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Bova Risk Model Predicts 30-Day Pulmonary Embolism-Related Complications
May 5, 2015
Clinical question: Can the Bova risk model stratify patients with acute PE into stages of increasing risk for 30-day pulmonary embolism (PE)-related complications? Background: The Bova score is based on four variables assessed at the time of PE diagnosis: heart rate, systolic blood pressure, card
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Intracranial Bleeding Risk for Head Injury Patients on Warfarin
May 5, 2015
High bleeding rates reported for patients taking warfarin after minor, minimal head injuries
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Enriched Nutritional Formulas Help Heal Pressure Ulcers
May 5, 2015
Arginine, zinc, antioxidant-supplemented formulas improve healing in malnourished patients
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High-Volume Hospitals Have Higher Readmission Rates
May 5, 2015
Clinical question: Is there an association between hospital volume and hospital readmission rates? Background: There is an established association between high patient volume and reduced complications or mortality after surgical procedures; however, readmission represents a different type of qual
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Hospital Testing Overuse Done to Reassure Patients, Families
May 5, 2015
Clinical Question: What is the extent of, and factors associated with, testing overuse in U.S.
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Functional Impairment Boosts Readmission for Medicare Seniors
May 5, 2015
Clinical question: Is functional impairment associated with an increased risk of 30-day readmission? Background: Many Medicare seniors suffer from some level of impairment in functional status, which, in turn, has been linked to high healthcare utilization.
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Delirium, Falls Reduced by Nonpharmacological Intervention
May 5, 2015
Clinical question: Are multicomponent, nonpharmacological interventions effective in decreasing delirium and falls? Background: Delirium is prevalent among elderly hospitalized patients and is associated with increased morbidity, length of stay, healthcare costs, and risk of institutionalization.