Pharmacotherapy
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Iatrogenic opioid abstinence syndrome (IOAS) is a common complication in critically ill infants and children receiving prolonged exposure to continuous infusions of opioids. Although no guidelines are available regarding management of IOAS in children, several treatment options are available, including clonidine, morphine, and methadone. Methadone is commonly prescribed due to its long half-life and antagonism of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. ⋯ It appears that a standard approach to initial methadone dosing does not exist because withdrawal occurred despite the regimen started. Therefore, it seems best to begin with the lowest dose possible and titrate to the child's response to avoid complications such as oversedation. Routine monitoring should be performed in all patients to guide clinicians in the management of IOAS.
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Review
Clinical controversies in thrombolytic therapy for the management of acute pulmonary embolism.
Acute pulmonary embolism is a common complication in hospitalized patients, spanning multiple patient populations and crossing various therapeutic disciplines. Due to the heterogeneous clinical manifestations, the selection of management strategies for patients with acute pulmonary embolism is a challenge for clinicians, and a nuanced understanding of the relevant literature is required. Previous studies that evaluated thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute pulmonary embolism are limited and controversial. ⋯ Despite published guidelines and review articles, select aspects of thrombolytic therapy for the management of pulmonary embolism remain controversial; therefore, clinical practice varies from institution to institution and from practitioner to practitioner. When making decisions about the role of thrombolytic therapy in patients with pulmonary embolism, clinicians must be knowledgeable about areas with limited evidence and the therapy's associated risks. In every situation, practitioners must consider the trajectory of the patient's status and the ability to intervene in an appropriate time frame.