Practical Summaries in Acute Care Archives – December 1, 2002
December 1, 2002
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Hyperbaric Oxygen for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
The value of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of CO-poisoned patients, and its ability to prevent long-term cognitive sequelae, has been debated for years among toxicology and hyperbaric experts. This study from the University of Utah addressed this difficult issue. -
Fibrinolysis in Acute MI and Hospital Revascularization Capability
In this retrospective study of the GUSTO-1 database, investigators compared clinical outcomes of more than 25,000 patients with acute myocardial infarction who were treated with fibrinolytic therapy in U.S. hospitals with and without coronary revascularization capability for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting. -
Oral Vitamin K Lowers INR Faster than Subcutaneous Vitamin K
Crowther and associates tested the hypothesis that oral vitamin K would reduce high international normalized ratio values faster than subcutaneous vitamin K. -
Syncope Should Not Be Taken Lightly
The authors of this study in the New England Journal of Medicine evaluated participants enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study between 1971 and 1998 who reported syncopal events. -
Special Feature: Metabolic Alkalosis
A systematic approach with an understanding of the pathophysiology can help the clinician correctly diagnose and treat metabolic alkalosis, a condition that carries a high morbidity and mortality rate. -
ECG Review: Chest Pain and Lots of P Waves
The 12-lead ECG shown in the figure was obtained from a 55-year-old woman with new-onset chest pain. Many more P waves than QRS complexes are seen on the tracing. How would you interpret this ECG?