title: Update in hospital medicine: studies likely to affect inpatient practice in 2011.
abstract: Dabigatran (Pradaxa) will likely start to replace warfarin (Coumadin) both to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation and to prevent recurrent venous thromboembolism. Using a checklist during insertion of central venous catheters can decrease the rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections in the intensive care unit. The overall survival rate of patients who undergo cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the intensive care unit is approximately 16%; the rate is lower in patients who are receiving pressor drugs and higher in those with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. Patients lacking follow-up with a primary care physician within 30 days of discharge are at high risk of readmission and have a trend for longer length of hospital stay. Preoperative stress testing for patients undergoing noncardiac surgery should be done selectively, i.e., in patients at high risk.
authors: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1400 Northwest 12th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136-1003, USA. ajaffer@med.miami.edu
authors: Amir K
authors: AK
authors: Jaffer
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D057189:Checklist; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D005431:Florida; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation