Critical Care News CME/CE

• Statins May Reduce Cancer Deaths in COPD Patients: Study CME In a Dutch study, treatment with statins in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was associated with a reduced mortality risk from extrapulmonary cancer.
  Reuters Health Information CME, November 2009
• Higher-Intensity Continuous Renal Replacement May Not Reduce Mortality Risk From Acute Kidney Injury CME In a randomized controlled trial in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury, treatment with higher-intensity continuous renal replacement therapy did not reduce mortality rate at 90 days.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• New Clinical Guidelines Issued for Exacerbations in Cystic Fibrosis CME The evidence-based guidelines discuss management of pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis, highlighting synergy testing and the dosing of aminoglycoside antibiotics.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Inhaled Corticosteroids May Be Helpful in Steroid-Naive Patients With Moderate to Severe COPD CME/CE In a randomized controlled trial, inhaled corticosteroids reduced inflammation and slowed decline in lung function in these patients; adding a long-acting beta agonist did not enhance these effects.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• CDC Issues Guidelines for Early Empiric Antiviral Treatment in Persons With Suspected Influenza CME/CE The new recommendations aim to assist clinicians in prioritizing use of antiviral medications for hospitalized patients and those at higher risk for influenza-related complications.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Herpes Zoster Attacks Increase Stroke Risk By 30% CME A new epidemiologic study shows that the risk for stroke increases after a zoster attack (shingles) by 30% and by up to 4-fold when the attack involves the eye.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Excess Body Weight Linked to Severity of Blood Oxygen Desaturation During Apnea Events CME Excess body weight may predict severity of blood oxygen desaturation during apnea and hypopnea events, exacerbating the impact of sleep-disordered breathing in obese patients.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Lupus Anticoagulant a Major Risk Factor for Stroke and MI in Young Women CME Results of the RATIO study suggest lupus anticoagulant, but not anticardiolipin or antiprothrombin antibodies, is associated with increased stroke risk and, to a lesser extent, myocardial infarction.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Multiple Strokes, Not Vascular Risk, Most Predictive of Poststroke Dementia CME Poststroke dementia, occurring in 10% of stroke patients and more than 30% of those with multiple strokes, may be prevented with optimal poststroke care.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• No Relationship Between Significant Carotid Stenosis and Stroke After Cardiac Surgery CME No association was found between carotid stenosis and stroke after cardiac surgery. The study may answer the question of whether carotid endarterectomy before or during heart surgery provides benefit.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation May Improve Outcomes in Severe Acute Respiratory Failure CME Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation vs conventional ventilator management may improve chances of survival without disability in patients with acute respiratory failure.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Increasing Duration of Chest Compressions During CPR May Lead to Better Survival for Patients in Cardiac Arrest CME Increasing the time that rescuers spend on chest compressions while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation could lead to increased survival in patients in cardiac arrest.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Procalcitonin Measurements May Reduce Rates of Antibiotic Use for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections CME In patients with lower respiratory tract infections, procalcitonin guidance vs standard guidelines yielded similar rates of adverse outcomes but lower rates of antibiotic exposure and adverse effects.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Treatment of COPD May Be Best Started at an Early Stage CME Tiotropium seemed to reduce the rate of decline of postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume at 1 second in patients with GOLD stage II chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• ADO Index May Help Predict Risk for Mortality From COPD CME This new score performs better than the currently used BODE index and is much more applicable to clinical practice, allowing physicians to target suitable treatment options to individual patients.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Budesonide for 12 Months Not Linked to Risk for Pneumonia in Patients With COPD CME Budesonide treatment for 12 months did not increase the risk for pneumonia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during that time and was safe for clinical use in such patients.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Tobacco Smoking May Increase Risk for Tuberculosis CME/CE In a representative cohort of Taiwan's population, tobacco smoking was associated with a 2-fold increased risk for active tuberculosis.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Pleural Fluid Mesothelin May Help Diagnose Mesothelioma CME A study shows that this test is a valuable adjunct to cytology in patients with an undiagnosed pleural effusion, being reproducible and not affected by common inflammatory pleural processes.
  Medscape Medical News CME, August 2009
• Upper Arm Exercises Improve Vigor in COPD Patients CME The current guideline on pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease advocates exercise training targeted at the muscles of the upper extremities.
  Reuters Health Information CME, August 2009
• Early Noninvasive Ventilation After Extubation May Improve Outcomes in Hypercapnic Patients CME A study shows a lower risk for respiratory failure and 90-day mortality in patients with hypercapnia during a spontaneous breathing trial, supporting routine implementation of this strategy.
  Medscape Medical News CME, August 2009