Abstract Purpose This study sought to identify the medication class most commonly prescribed for stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP), assess trends in SUP utilization, and report the use of acid ...suppressive therapy stratified by bleeding risk. Materials and methods This multicenter, prospective, point prevalence study reviewed adult patients over a 24-hour period for demographics, medications used for SUP, and risk factors for clinically important bleeding. Stress ulcer prophylaxis was deemed appropriate if acid suppressive therapy was administered to patients at high risk for bleeding or no therapy in patients considered at low bleeding risk. High risk was defined as the presence of mechanical ventilation, coagulopathy, or shock. For patients receiving acid suppression before hospital admission, SUP was considered appropriate if the same drug class was continued regardless of risk factors. A planned subgroup analysis was conducted whereby patients on acid suppressive medications before admission were excluded. Results There were 584 patients from 58 intensive care units in 27 hospitals. The most common drug class was proton pump inhibitors (70%). Despite receiving other enteral/oral medications, 36% received intravenous acid suppressive therapy. Overall, SUP was considered appropriate in 78% of patients and 68% when patients on acid suppression before admission were excluded. When stratified by risk, acid suppressive medications were used in 92% of high-risk patients and 71% of low-risk patients. Conclusion Stress ulcer prophylaxis is frequently administered to patients who are not at high risk for clinically important bleeding. Proton pump inhibitors are the overwhelming first choice among practitioners. Several opportunities exist for improvement regarding the provision of SUP.
SUMMARY
In the presence of inflammation, iron availability for erythropoiesis is decreased, and hemoglobin production is reduced in reticulocytes. The reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) provides a ...real picture of bone marrow status and could be useful to evaluate iron metabolism in critically ill patients. We conducted a preliminary study to evaluate the feasibility to measure the CHr in the intensive care units of two university hospitals and to evaluate the impact of C‐reactive protein on CHr values. The CHr was measured in 14 consecutive critically ill patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit between 48 and 96 hours. One patient with a ferritin concentration < 100 µg/L was excluded to eliminate a possible coexistence of iron deficiency with inflammation. A statistically significant correlation was observed between C‐reactive protein concentrations and CHr values (r = −0.588; P = 0.03, n = 13). The results observed in this preliminary study are interesting and could be useful to establish the research protocol for a future study evaluating iron metabolism in critically ill patients. A larger study is feasible and warranted given the results observed in this preliminary study.
A 54‐year‐old patient, admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of severe pancreatitis, developed circulatory shock that failed to respond to standard vasopressor treatment: epinephrine ...and norepinephrine. Addition of vasopressin helped reduce standard catecholamine need while maintaining adequate arterial blood pressure. Vasopressin appears to be a promising agent for maintaining arterial pressure during septic shock or systemic inflammatory response syndrome, but due to limited data and potential side effects, its use as first‐line treatment for these indications is not recommended.
A case report, focused on vasopressor use and presented in this article, is likely to resonate with many critical care nurses. In this article the authors describe opportunities to enhance safety ...with vasopressor therapy. Specifically, the goal of improving communication among physicians, nurses, and pharmacists around desired endpoints for vasopressor therapy, triggers for reassessment of the therapeutic strategy and cause of the patient's shock was identified as an area for improvement. A form piloted within an organization for use during multidisciplinary rounds and key findings is shared. Vasopressors constitute the mainstay of therapy for nearly every hemodynamically unstable patient in critical care. It is hoped that the lessons and information shared help empower critical care nurses to facilitate vasopressor stewardship within their facilities and, ultimately, enhance patient safety.
A case report, focused on vasopressor use and presented in this article, is likely to resonate with many critical care nurses. In this article the authors describe opportunities to enhance safety ...with vasopressor therapy. Specifically, the goal of improving communication among physicians, nurses, and pharmacists around desired endpoints for vasopressor therapy, triggers for reassessment of the therapeutic strategy and cause of the patients shock was identified as an area for improvement. A form piloted within an organization for use during multidisciplinary rounds and key findings is shared. Vasopressors constitute the mainstay of therapy for nearly every hemodynamically unstable patient in critical care. It is hoped that the lessons and information shared help empower critical care nurses to facilitate vasopressor stewardship within their facilities and, ultimately, enhance patient safety.
Abstract We updated the evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, assessment, prevention, and treatment of hypertension in adults for 2013. This year's update includes 2 new recommendations. ...First, among nonhypertensive or stage 1 hypertensive individuals, the use of resistance or weight training exercise does not adversely influence blood pressure (BP) (Grade D). Thus, such patients need not avoid this type of exercise for fear of increasing BP. Second, and separately, for very elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension (age 80 years or older), the target for systolic BP should be < 150 mm Hg (Grade C) rather than < 140 mm Hg as recommended for younger patients. We also discuss 2 additional topics at length (the pharmacological treatment of mild hypertension and the possibility of a diastolic J curve in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease). In light of several methodological limitations, a recent systematic review of 4 trials in patients with stage 1 uncomplicated hypertension did not lead to changes in management recommendations. In addition, because of a lack of prospective randomized data assessing diastolic BP thresholds in patients with coronary artery disease and hypertension, no recommendation to set a selective diastolic cut point for such patients could be affirmed. However, both of these issues will be examined on an ongoing basis, in particular as new evidence emerges.
Abstract Hypertension Canada's CHEP Guidelines Task Force provides annually-updated, evidence-based recommendations to guide the diagnosis, assessment, prevention, and treatment of hypertension. This ...year, we present four new recommendations, as well as revisions to two previous recommendations. In the diagnosis and assessment of hypertension, automated office blood pressure, taken without patient-health provider interaction, is now recommended as the preferred method of measuring in-office blood pressure. Also, while a serum lipid panel remains part of the routine laboratory testing for patients with hypertension, both fasting and non-fasting collections are now considered acceptable. For individuals with secondary hypertension arising from primary hyperaldosteronism, adrenal vein sampling is recommended for those who are candidates for potential adrenalectomy. With respect to the treatment of hypertension, a new recommendation that has been added is for increasing dietary potassium to reduce blood pressure in those who are not at high risk for hyperkalemia. Furthermore, in selected high-risk patients, intensive blood pressure reduction to a target systolic blood pressure ≤120 mmHg should be considered to lower the risk of cardiovascular events. Finally, in hypertensive individuals with uncomplicated, stable angina pectoris, either a β blocker or calcium channel blocker may be considered for initial therapy. The specific evidence and rationale underlying each of these recommendations are discussed. Hypertension Canada's CHEP Guidelines Task Force will continue to provide annual updates.
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