Our Articles and Knowledge Base
Unsuccessful and Successful Clinical Trials in ARDS Patients on Mechanical Ventilation
Jesús Villar and colleagues recently published a review article that synthesizes information from randomized controlled trials among patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) on mechanical ventilation. Their review provides a detailed discussion of six major interventions used to improve oxygenation and ventilation in these patients.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemoperfusion for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Global incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is on the rise and not expected to peak for another 5-15 years. This is alarming, as survival rates are poor and recurrence after surgical intervention is common. Multimodal treatment is often necessary, and hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITHOC) has been widely used for this purpose.
Using prediction polling to harness collective intelligence for disease forecasting
During infectious disease epidemics, public health workers require an early warning, situational awareness, and predictive information. Sentinel surveillance, laboratory reporting, and case identification are all traditional methods of infectious disease surveillance that provide crucial information for outbreak response, management, and decision-making.
VIS and VVR Scores as Outcome Predictors for Children on ECMO
Ira Shukla, Sheila Hanson, Ke Yan, and Jian Zhang recently published a paper, “Vasoactive-Inotropic Score and Vasoactive-Ventilation-Renal Score as Outcome Predictors for Children on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation” in Frontiers in Pediatrics. Here we summarize their findings. The complete published manuscript is also available on the Frontiers website.
Treatment Effect of Daily Assessment of Readiness to Liberate from VV ECMO in Patients with ARDS
Elias Pratt and colleagues recently published a research paper, “A Daily, Respiratory Therapist Assessment of Readiness to Liberate from Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome,” in Critical Care Explorations. Here we summarize their work.
Caution in Using Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time to Monitor Argatroban
Susan Guy and colleagues recently published a research paper, “Caution in Using the Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time to Monitor Argatroban in COVID-19 and Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis (VITT),” in Clinical and Applied Thombosis/Hemostasis. Here we summarize their work.
A Sneak-Peek into the Physician’s Brain: Weighing TAVR vs. SAVR for Aortic Stenosis Treatment
In the contemporary era, for the treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become a viable alternative to isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (iSAVR). The evolution of TAVR over the previous two decades, particularly its usage in younger patients, has provided a glimpse of the new technique's progressive integration into everyday practice.
Educational psychology of medical training
Medical training has high stakes, sometimes higher than other forms of training. It involves working with a very complex subject matter and having to make life and death calls. It is important to provide an education that takes into account the needs of the learner to offer good outcomes. Here is where educational psychology might contribute to medical training, providing better strategies for teaching.
Non-Invasive Biomarkers of Fontan Associated Liver Disease
Surgical palliation (resulting in the Fontan circulation and total cavo-pulmonary connection) is beneficial to palliate symptoms in patients with a range of congenital cardiac diseases and lesions as hypoplastic left heart syndrome and tricuspid atresia. Passive venous flow directly enters the pulmonary circulation, increasing oxygen saturation in arterial blood.
Cardiac Structural Remodeling and Hemodynamic Patterns Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
The PARTNER (Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve Trial) has been paving the way since 2011, establishing that transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is equally effective as surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) who are at high surgical risk. In 2019, the advantages of TAVR were extended to patients with minimal surgical risk, with decreased rates of mortality, stroke, and re-hospitalization after one year than with SAVR.