Clinical pharmacy
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Review Case Reports
Ampicillin-sulbactam therapy for multiple pyogenic hepatic abscesses.
A patient with multiple, pyogenic hepatic abscesses is described, and the pathophysiology, etiologies, clinical and laboratory manifestations, and management of the disease are reviewed. A 55-year-old man with a history of ethanol abuse and pancreatitis developed fever, chills, general malaise, and right upper quadrant abdominal pain two weeks before hospitalization. Baseline laboratory and hematology results included serum albumin concentration, 3.2 g/dL; serum alkaline phosphatase concentration, 239 mIU/mL; total serum bilirubin concentration, 1.3 mg/dL; white blood cell count, 18,400/cu mm; red blood cell count, 4.7 million/cu mm; hemoglobin, 12.5 g/dL; and hematocrit, 38.8%. ⋯ Abnormal laboratory values include leukocytosis, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia. The abscesses are frequently polymicrobial; Escherichia coli is the most commonly isolated species. CT is the best radiological technique for diagnosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Clinical studies of the injectable nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAIA) ketorolac tromethamine are reviewed, and the chemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, and adverse effects of ketorolac are described. Ketorolac exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic activity. Although the exact mechanisms of action have not been determined, its effects appear to be associated principally with the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. ⋯ For short-term pain management, an initial i.m. ketorolac tromethamine loading dose of 30 or 60 mg is recommended. Ketorolac tromethamine appears to be as effective as morphine or meperidine for short-term management of moderate to severe postoperative pain. It lacks the respiratory depressant effects of opiate analgesics but shares the toxic potentials of other NSAIAs.