The Medical clinics of North America
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Med. Clin. North Am. · Nov 2024
ReviewMedical Clinics of North America-Periprocedural Antithrombotics: Prophylaxis and Interruption.
Anticoagulation management in the surgical patient requires clinical expertise and careful attention. For patients already receiving anticoagulation for a defined indication (ie, stroke prevention for atrial fibrillation, treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE), or presence of a mechanical heart valve), understanding how to manage these agents by weighing the risks of thromboembolic events and bleeding is paramount. Additionally, prevention of VTE in the surgical patient involves the identification of patient-specific and procedure-specific risk factors for both VTE and bleeding. With this information, as well as familiarity with the several antithrombotic options available, an appropriate prophylaxis strategy can be employed.
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Med. Clin. North Am. · Nov 2024
ReviewEndocrine Care for the Surgical Patient: Diabetes Mellitus, Thyroid and Adrenal Conditions.
Patients with hyperglycemia, thyroid dysfunction, and adrenal insufficiency face increased perioperative risk, which may be mitigated by appropriate management. This review addresses preoperative glycemic control, makes evidence-based recommendations for the increasingly complex perioperative management of noninsulin diabetes medications, and provides guideline-supported strategies for the perioperative management of insulin, including suggested indications for continuous intravenous insulin. The authors propose a strategy for determining when surgery should be delayed in patients with thyroid dysfunction and present a matrix for managing perioperative stress dose corticosteroids based on the limited evidence available.
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Surgery under anesthesia poses a significant stress to the body, and postoperative complications occur in up to 20% of cases. An understanding of postoperative complications, including assessment of patients at risk, risk mitigation, early recognition, and evidence-based treatment, is essential to provide high-value health care. Common postoperative complications reviewed in this article include fever, cerebrovascular accident, nausea and vomiting, ileus, and urinary retention, including discussion of pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment.
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Hospital medicine grew rapidly, creating a group of providers excelling at providing high-value and high-quality care. Consultative medicine aims to answer specific questions regarding aspects of a patient's care. ⋯ Outcomes of comanagement services are mixed, likely related to the variability with how they are structured. A successful comanagement model involves a thoughtful and detailed approach.
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Preoperative medical evaluation can minimize inefficiencies and improve outcomes. Thoughtful use of preoperative testing can aid in that effort, but, conversely, indiscriminate testing can detract from it. ⋯ Testing is supported only when clinical indications are present. Particularly in low-risk patients, such as those with an ASA classification of 1 or 2 who are undergoing ambulatory procedures, evidence suggests that preoperative testing fails to reduce the risk of complications.