The Annals of pharmacotherapy
-
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose intravenous ketamine in addition to intravenous propofol for procedural sedation and analgesia in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ At this time, insufficient clinical evidence exists to recommend the routine use of low-dose ketamine with propofol for procedural sedation in the ED setting.
-
Opioid-related adverse drug events in surgical hospitalizations: impact on costs and length of stay.
Opioid analgesics remain a mainstay in the treatment of pain associated with surgical procedures. Such use is associated with adverse drug events (ADEs). ⋯ Opioid-related ADEs following surgery were associated with significantly increased LOS and hospitalization costs. These ADEs occurred more frequently in patients receiving higher doses of opioids.
-
A recent meta-analysis demonstrated that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) reduce the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation by nearly 50%. However, the ability of ACE inhibitors or ARBs to prevent post-cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) atrial fibrillation, when used postoperatively, has yet to be evaluated. ⋯ In this evaluation, postoperative ACE inhibitor or ARB use was not associated with a reduction in post-CTS atrial fibrillation. A study of preoperative, longer-term ACE inhibitor and/or ARB therapy is needed to determine the benefits of that strategy.