In the News

Early Warning System for Sepsis Improves Survival Rates, Reduces Hospital Stays

Patients who presented to the emergency departments and were flagged by an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for possibly having sepsis received antibiotics sooner and had better outcomes, according to a study published in Critical Care Medicine.

“We showed that when providers...

Initial Treatment of MIS-C With IVIG and Glucocorticoids Reduces Risk of Cardiovascular Dysfunction

Treating multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) initially with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) and glucocorticoids reduced the risk of serious short-term adverse outcomes, including cardiovascular dysfunction, than those who receive an initial treatment of IVIG alone, according...

Myocarditis in Younger Men Following COVID-19 Vaccination Not Common, But Higher Than Expected

By Denise Baez

Myocarditis occurred in previously healthy military patients with similar clinical presentations following receipt of an mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, according to a study published in JAMA Cardiology.

“In this case series, we describe 23...

Magnets in Cell Phones and Smart Watches May Affect Pacemakers, Other Implanted Medical Devices

Some consumer electronic devices with high field strength magnets, such as cell phones and smart watches, may cause certain implanted medical devices to switch to “magnet mode” and suspend normal operations until the magnet is moved away from the medical device.

Many implanted medical...

ACP Recommends Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography to Improve Diagnosis of Patients With Acute Dyspnoea

By Denise Baez

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has published new guidelines recommending point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS), in addition to the standard diagnostic pathway, when there is diagnostic uncertainty in patients with acute dyspnoea in emergency department or...

FDA Approves Higher Dosage of Naloxone Nasal Spray to Treat Opioid Overdose

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a higher dose of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray to treat opioid overdose. The newly approved product delivers naloxone 8 mg into the nasal cavity. The FDA had previously approved naloxone 2 mg and 4 mg nasal spray products.

“Today...

AHA/ASA Publish Guidance on Treatment for Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) Stroke Council Leadership convened quickly to provide important guidance about cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and thrombocytopenia, together called thrombosis and thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), in patients who...

New Machine Learning-Based Tool to Help Physicians Determine Best Test for Chest Pain

By applying machine learning techniques to data from 2 large clinical trials, researchers have created a new digital decision-aiding tool, called ASSIST, that can identify which imaging test to pursue in patients who may have coronary artery disease (CAD).

The new tool, described in a...

CDC’s ACIP: Benefits of Janssen Vaccine Outweigh the Risks, Pause Lifted

By Denise Baez

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that the Janssen/J&J adenovirus vector coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine (Ad26COV2.S) continue to be used in people aged 18 years and older...

In-Ambulance Stroke Consults Reduces Critical Treatment Time for Patients

Prehospital stroke triaging using telestroke consultation in emergency medical services unit (TEMS) is feasible, and could result in shorter door-to-needle time and onset to groin times, according to a study published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases.

Patients...