American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Feb 2005
Epoetin alfa protocol and multidisciplinary blood-conservation program for critically ill patients.
An evidence-based epoetin alfa protocol and a multidisciplinary blood-conservation program were implemented in a medical intensive care unit (MICU) and surgical intensive care unit (SICU). ⋯ An epoetin alfa protocol and a multidisciplinary blood-conservation program contributed to rational prescribing of epoetin alfa and to a reduction in the number of RBC units transfused per patient and per ICU day.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Feb 2005
Magnesium sulfate for prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.
The effects of i.v. magnesium sulfate on the frequency of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and on the frequency of AF at hospital discharge were studied. The effect of postoperative AF on hospital length of stay (LOS) was also assessed. ⋯ CABG patients who received intraoperative and postoperative i.v. magnesium sulfate had a significantly lower rate of AF compared with patients who did not receive the drug. The number of patients discharged with AF was not affected by magnesium administration. AF was associated with a higher likelihood of prolonged postoperative hospitalization.