-
-
The optimal timing of surgery for asymptomatic severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR) is unclear. Thus, Kang et al from South Korea studied the outcomes of patients treated with early surgery to those treated more conservatively in a prospective observational study.
-
Dronedarone is a new antiarrhythmic drug with structural similarities to amiodarone.
-
The clinical utility of microvolt T-wave alternans (MWTA) testing to detect subtle beat-to-beat oscillations in the electrocardiogram's T-wave amplitude as a non-invasive method for predicting sudden cardiac death remains undetermined.
-
-
Individualization of therapy with pharmacogenetics; the rate vs rhythm debate; the FDA's Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy; FDA actions.
-
Nucleic acid amplification (NAA) testing should be performed on at least one respiratory specimen from each patient with signs and symptoms of pulmonary TB for whom a diagnosis of TB is being considered but has not yet been established, and for whom the test result would alter case management or TB control activities.
-
Preliminary data indicate that the prevalence of influenza A (H1N1) virus strains resistant to the antiviral medication oseltamivir is high. Therefore, interim guidelines issued by the CDC are to use zanamivir or a combination of oseltamivir and rimantidine if influenza A (H1N1) infection is suspected.
-
Sleep disordered breathing occurs in most acute stroke patients and may contribute to morbidity
-
This meta-analysis of studies examining the efficacy of systemic corticosteroids for preventing laryngeal edema following extubation concludes that this treatment is effective. This result differs from those of several previous meta-analyses, and raises practical issues such as whether extubation should be delayed for at least 12 hours after a patient passes a spontaneous breathing trial and qualifies for extubation so that a course of steroids can be given.
