J Trauma
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The purpose of this study was to determine how chronic cocaine exposure affects the hemodynamic response to epinephrine, dopamine, phenylephrine, and ephedrine in awake sheep. ⋯ In awake sheep, chronic cocaine exposure markedly impairs the hemodynamic response to dopamine but not to epinephrine, phenylephrine, or ephedrine.
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Modern surgical care must meet high standards of quality but must also be cost-effective. Critical care uses huge amounts of resources, and strategies for effective use of scarce, expensive intensive care unit beds must be implemented. Previously, we demonstrated that ancillary expenditures can be decreased without compromising care. The present study was performed to determine whether our cost-containment strategies were durable and could be extended to areas, such as chest roentgenography, where savings previously proved elusive. ⋯ Durable reductions in physician-ordered ancillary expenditures are possible without compromising the standard of care of critically ill patients, but active management and daily reinforcement are necessary to the process. Shorter length of stay and lower costs benefit the patient, the surgeon, the intensivist, and the institution.