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In: Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Journal Club

Methodology Score: 3/5 Usefulness Score: 3/5 Nazerian P, et al. Circulation. 2018 Jan 16;137(3):250-258.  Editorial – Biomarker-Assisted Diagnosis of Acute Aortic Dissection. Question: The ADvISED trial was an International Multicenter prospective observational study of  a novel diagnostic strategy that integrated the Aortic Dissection Detection Risk Score (ADD-RS) and D-Dimer in an ED population to rule outRead More →

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In: Critical Care, Endocrinology, Journal Club, Resuscitation

Methodology Score: 4/5 Usefulness Score: 3/5 Venkatesh B, et al. N Engl J Med. 2018 Jan 19. Journal Club Bottom Line Question/Methods: This was a international, pragmatic, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing hydrocortisone as continuous infusion to placebo in patients with septic shock on  mechanical ventilation and at least 4-hoursRead More →

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In: Featured, Journal Club, Neurology

Methodology: 3.5/5 Usefulness: 4/5 Albers GW, et al. N Engl J Med. 2018 Jan 24. Journal Club Bottom Line Question/Methods: This was a multicentre, prospective, randomized, open label, blinded outcome trial comparing thrombectomy + medical therapy vs medical therapy alone in patients with delayed presentation (6-16 hours) of proximal MCARead More →

Urine Sample

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In: Journal Club, Quality Improvement, Urology

Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 4/5                   Usefulness Score: 4/5 Stagg A, et al. BMJ Qual Saf. 2018 Feb;27(2):140-147.  Question and Methods: This QI time-series analysis assessed the efficacy, safety and costs of a 2-step urine culture (UC) collection system. Findings: There was a decrease in UC processing (5.9%-4.6%), positive UCsRead More →

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In: Infectious Disease, Journal Club

Journal Club Summary Alam N, et al. Lancet Respir Med. 2018 Jan;6(1):40-50.  Question and Methods: The authors of this nation-wide open-label RCT studied the mortality effect of pre-hospital antibiotics on febrile patients with one other non-laboratory SIRS criteria by comparing pre-hospital usual care with IV fluids and oxygen to theRead More →

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In: Cardiology, Journal Club

Journal Club Summary Methodology: 3.5/5           Usefulness: 3/5 Peacock WF, et al. JAMA Cardiol. 2017 Dec 13 EDITORIAL: The Wait for High-Sensitivity Troponin Is Over-Proceed Cautiously Korley FK. JAMA Cardiol. 2017 Dec 13 Question and Methods: This prospective, observational, multicenter study evaluated if a negative hsTnt assay at 0h and 3h post EDRead More →

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In: Anesthesiology, Journal Club, Resuscitation

Methodology Score: 3.5/5                Usefulness Score: 3/5 Semler MW, et al. Chest. 2017 Oct;152(4):712-722. Editorial: Should the Ramped Position Be “Sniffed at” in the ICU? Scott JA, et al. Chest. 2017 Oct;152(4):693-694. Question and Methods: Multicenter, randomized, unblinded, trial of 260 ICU patients comparing the ramped vs sniffing position for intubations performed by criticalRead More →

CPR

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In: Cardiology, Full Article, Journal Club, Resuscitation

Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3.5/5 Usefulness Score: 3.5/5 Cournoyer A, et al. Acad Emerg Med. 2017 Sep;24(9):1100-1109. Question and Methods: Retrospective observational cohort study to evaluate if the addition ACLS to BLS during EMS management for Out-of-Hospital cardiac arrest – OHCA (and for a predefined subgroup of potential ECMO candidates) improve ratesRead More →

Ct-angiography

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In: Cardiology, Featured, Full Article, Journal Club

Journal Club Summary Dewey M, et al. BMJ. 2016 Oct 24;355:i5441. Methodology: 2.5/5 Usefulness: 2.5/5 Question and Methods: Prospective single center RCT to determine whether patients with intermediate probability of CAD and atypical chest pain/angina should undergo cardiac CT or coronary angiography. Findings: The study found no difference in major procedural complications withinRead More →

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In: Cardiology, Journal Club

Journal Club Summary Methodology Score: 3.5/5                Usefulness Score: 3.5/5 Question and Methods: This meta-analysis included prospective studies to assess the ability of a single negative hs-cTnT and non-ischemic ECG to identify patients at low risk for AMI. Findings: The results of 11 studies were pooled, resulting in a pooled sensitivityRead More →