Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A B Leibowitz

Publications and source records attributed to A B Leibowitz.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Anesthesia: what the internist needs to know.

We have attempted to acquaint the internist with some aspects of anesthesiology that need to be kept in mind when performing perioperative consultation. Communication among and between the entire operative team will reduce risk and untoward reactions and will enhance the likelihood of successful outcome and rapid recovery.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1990

A multicenter study of physicians' knowledge of the pulmonary artery catheter. Pulmonary Artery Catheter Study Group.

We administered a 31-question multiple-choice examination to 496 physicians practicing in 13 medical facilities in the United States and Canada to assess their knowledge and understanding of the use of the pulmonary artery catheter and interpretation of data derived from it. The mean test score was 20.7 (67% correct), with an SD of 5.4 and a range of 6 to 31 (19% to 100%). Mean scores varied independently by training, frequency of use of pulmonary artery catheter data in patient treatment, frequency of inserting a pulmonary artery catheter, and whether the respondent's hospital was a primary medical school affiliate. Given the variability in physician understanding of the pulmonary artery catheter, we believe that credentialing policies should be reevaluated and that consideration should be given to restricting its use to individuals with documented competency.

Canada↗
PubMed1990

Low sensitivity of the anion gap as a screen to detect hyperlactatemia in critically ill patients.

The anion gap is commonly used as a screening test for the presence of lactic acidosis. Analysis of the distribution of anion gaps for 56 adult surgical ICU patients with peak blood lactate levels greater than or equal to 2.5 mmol/L showed the anion gap to be an insensitive screen for elevated lactate in a critically ill, hospitalized population. All patients (11/11) with a peak lactate greater than or equal to 10 mmol/L had an anion gap greater than or equal to 16 mmol/L; however, 50% (6/12) of patients with lactates between 5.0 and 9.9 mmol/L and 79% (26/33) of those with lactates between 2.5 and 4.9 mmol/L had anion gaps less than 16 mmol/L. Hyperlactatemia was associated with considerable mortality at all levels: 100% among patients with lactate levels greater than or equal to 10 mmol/L, 75% between 5.0 and 9.9 mmol/L, and 36.4% between 2.5 and 4.9 mmol/L. Acidosis (pH less than 7.30) did not significantly alter mortality by lactate level. The observation that, for 57% of patients in this study, an elevated lactate level was not accompanied by an elevated anion gap suggests that hyperlactatemia should be included in the differential diagnosis of nonanion gap acidosis.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗