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At least 1,333 records · Page 74Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Adrenal imaging agents: rationale, synthesis, formulation and, metabolism.

In this introductory paper on radionuclide adrenal imaging, the rationale, synthesis, formulation, and metabolism of two clinically well-established and one promisinmg adrenocortical imaging agents are reviewed. Their present clinical utility is reviewed in a separate presentation in this issue. Progress to date in developing a positive imaging agent of the adrenal medulla and tumors of chromaffin tissue will be given brief consideration because there is, as yet, no clinically successful radiolabeled adrenal medulla imaging agent.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1978

Can the psro's be cost effective? A study of the effect of the Commonwealth Health Agencies monitoring program on the length of stay of Medicaid patients in Massachusetts.

To analyze the effect of the Commonwealth Health Agencies Monitoring Program on the length of stay of a sample of Massachusetts Medicaid patients, we compared their experience with that of non-Medicaid patients. We found a consistently decreasing trend in the length of stay of Medicaid patients during the 2 1/2-year period studied. The average length of stay of Medicaid patients decreased by 11.9 per cent relative to the norm, whereas the non-Medicaid length of stay decreased by only 6.6 per cent. We infer that the Program may be credited within the 5.3 per cent differential decrease. The consistency and reliability of the data suggest that similar results may be extrapolated to the hospitals not sampled. We conclude that Professional Standards Review Organizations, of which this program was a precursor, can be cost effective, given an expanded review mandate and the application of suibable evaluative processes.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2004

Spironolactone use in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The addition of spironolactone, an aldosterone antagonist, to standard therapy can reduce the risk of both morbidity and mortality in patients with severe heart failure. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of spironolactone in class III and IV heart failure patients in four urban teaching hospitals. METHODS: We conducted a concurrent medical record review of 163 patients with documented heart failure admitted to a general medicine service over a 5-week period. Data retrieved included patient demographics, heart failure class, left ventricular ejection fraction, spironolactone contraindications, spironolactone use, dose and frequency, and other heart failure medication use, dose and frequency. All data reflected patients' baseline status. RESULTS: Our patient population was 80% white people, 61% male, with a mean age of 70 years (35-99). A total of 114 had class III or IV heart failure (70%). Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or appropriate alternative were prescribed in 117 (72%) patients, whereas beta-blockers were used in 121 (74%) patients. Fifty-seven patients met spironolactone ideal candidate criteria. Of these, eight (14%) were appropriately prescribed spironolactone. CONCLUSIONS: Three years after publication of the Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study, spironolactone is underutilized in the treatment of heart failure. Results of this study indicated that the majority of patients in class III or IV heart failure were not prescribed spironolactone. Improvements in spironolactone prescribing are needed.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Hazardous benzodiazepine regimens in the elderly: effects of half-life, dosage, and duration on risk of hip fracture.

OBJECTIVE: While benzodiazepine treatment is known to increase the risk of hip fracture in older populations, controversy persists over which characteristics of benzodiazepine use (e.g., elimination half-life, dosage, duration of use) are most associated with such risks. METHOD: The authors reviewed the health care utilization data of 1,222 hip fracture patients and 4,888 comparison patients frequency matched on the basis of age and gender (all were at least 65 years old). Patients were enrolled in Medicare as well as in the New Jersey Medicaid or Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled programs. Benzodiazepine use, as well as other covariates, were assessed before the index date (which was either the date of hospital admission for hip fracture surgical repair or, for the comparison subjects, a randomly assigned, frequency-matched date). RESULTS: All benzodiazepine doses > or =3 mg/day in diazepam equivalents significantly increased the adjusted risk of hip fracture by 50%. Significantly increased adjusted risks of hip fracture were seen during the initial 2 weeks of use (60% increase) and after more than 1 month of continuous use (80% increase) but not for 2-4 weeks of continuous use. Use of benzodiazepines other than long-acting agents significantly increased the risk of hip fracture by 50%. CONCLUSIONS: Even at modest doses, including some low doses currently advocated in prescribing guidelines for older patients, treatment with benzodiazepines appears to increase the risk of hip fracture. Patients appear to be particularly vulnerable immediately after initiating therapy and after more than 1 month of continuous use. Benzodiazepines with shorter half-lives appear to be no safer than longer half-life agents. Clinicians should be aware of these risks and weigh them against potential benefits when prescribing for elderly patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

An evaluation of postoperative pain management in pediatric patients at a university teaching hospital.

In recent years, pediatric pain management has begun to receive some much deserved attention. Many misconceptions regarding pediatric pain management have resulted in infants and children receiving inadequate pain control after surgical or invasive procedures. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate appropriateness of pain management practices, emphasizing drug therapy, in children with acute pain after a surgical procedure. Analgesic use and pain assessment methods were evaluated for 30 pediatric patients undergoing an invasive medical procedure or surgery. Data were collected concurrently on the use of pain medications, potential for drug interactions/duplication of therapeutic classes, pain assessment, patient response to medication, and any adverse effects experienced by a child. Twenty patients (67%) had concurrent orders written for multiple analgesics on admission to the nursing unit. Only 6 of these 20 order sets (30%) designated specific indications for use. Ten of the 14 remaining order sets (those without specific directions for use) contained at least one medication that was inappropriate to treat the expected level of postoperative pain. Fifty-four percent of total physician orders fell outside study criteria for appropriate dosing and scheduling frequency. Patient records revealed that nursing administered the lowest ordered dose 47% of the time, and a failure to consistently conduct pain assessments or document patient response to medication. Eight patients (27%) experienced allergic-type reactions, whereas 7 patients (23%) experienced adverse drug reactions. Information gathered from this review will be used to determine if a need exists to develop hospital guidelines or adopt the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research guidelines for acute pain management in children.

Analgesics↗