Arch Intern Med
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Assessment of the clinical probability of pulmonary emboli sm, plasma D-dimer measurement, and lower-limb venous compression ultrasonography have all been advocated in the workup of suspected pulmonary embolism, to minimize the requirement for pulmonary angiography in patients with nondiagnostic lung scans. However, their contribution has not been assessed prospectively. ⋯ This decision analysis strategy yielded a definitive noninvasive diagnosis in 62% of patients with a nondiagnostic scan and appears to be safe.
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To evaluate prospectively the diagnostic efficacy and safety of stereotactic brain biopsy and its impact on treatment, outcome, and survival in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with focal brain lesions. ⋯ Stereotactic brain biopsy has high diagnostic efficacy and clinical benefit in carefully selected human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. The procedure should be performed essentially in patients with contrast-enhancing lesions on computed tomography who have a high frequency of treatable cerebral diseases.
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The field of ventilatory support has changed dramatically with the introduction of improvements in technology and new ventilatory modes. The most recent ventilators are characterized by microprocessor technology, making the interaction between patient and ventilator more sophisticated than ever before. ⋯ Pressure support ventilation is different from controlled mechanical ventilation or intermittent mandatory ventilation; pressure support ventilation is characterized by a unique combination of simultaneous spontaneous and mechanical breathing, so that the ventilatory and flow rates and tidal volume depend on the patient's breathing pattern and the set level of pressure support. Pressure support ventilation can be used as a stand-alone ventilatory support mode and alternative to volume-controlled ventilation, and it can be used in weaning patients from mechanical ventilation.
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Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is automatically provided in the event of a cardiac or pulmonary arrest, unless an order not to resuscitate is written. When successful, CPR usually leads to mechanical ventilatory support. A patient care category (PCC) policy, which replaces a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) policy, assigns a category on admission describing care to be provided. This PCC policy is perceived to avoid more unnecessary or undesired medical care that includes CPR and subsequent mechanical ventilatory support than a DNR policy. ⋯ A DNR policy significantly decreases the rates of CPR and DVS, but only modestly. A PCC policy dramatically decreases the rates of CPR and DVS with no change in mortality.
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Stroke is one of the most significant potential complications in patients who are undergoing cardioversion for atrial fibrillation. To minimize the risk of stroke, the American College of Chest Physicians' (ACCP's) Third Consensus Conference on Antithrombotic Therapy developed specific recommendations regarding anticoagulation before and following elective cardioversion of patients with atrial fibrillation. ⋯ Physicians are not routinely following the ACCP's Third Consensus Conference on Antithrombotic Therapy recommendations regarding anticoagulation in elective cardioversion of atrial fibrillation, thus increasing patients' risk of stroke.