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Empiric Treatment (empiric + treatment)
Selected AbstractsTherapeutic plasma exchange as a nephrological procedure: A single-center experience ,,JOURNAL OF CLINICAL APHERESIS, Issue 4 2005Fred E. Yeo Abstract In the United States, therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is both performed and requested by a wide range of services, often on an empiric basis (before a diagnosis is established). Whether empiric therapy is beneficial has not been established. Patients were identified from an electronic procedure log that included those patients who received plasmapheresis at Walter Reed Army Medical Center from 1996 to 2003. The clinical indications, referring service, and outcomes (including deaths) that occurred were tabulated. Between March 1997 and August 2003, 568 TPE treatments were performed in 54 patients. The majority of the diagnoses were either neurologic (48%) or hematologic (37%). Thirty-three patients (61%) received TPE for a Category I indication. Twelve cases were performed empirically (without an established diagnosis) at the request of the referring service, most (7) performed for presumed thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Almost 80% of patients required central venous catheters for treatment. Twelve patients (22%) experienced a major complication including death, and six patients (11%) died. Of the patients who died, 5 (83%) were treated empirically versus one death (17%) among patients not treated empirically, P < 0.001 by Chi Square. Only one of the seven patients treated empirically for TTP died, however. In logistic regression analysis, empiric treatment was the only factor independently associated with death, adjusted odds ratio, 34.2, 95% CI, 3.4, 334.8, P = 0.003. The most common indication for TPE was neurological disease, which also accounted for the highest proportion of complications. With the exception of presumed TTP, performing TPE in the absence of a confirmed diagnosis was not beneficial. J. Clin. Apheresis Published 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Bacterial infections in cirrhosisLIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2004Miguel Navasa Abstract: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections and bacteremia are the most frequent infective complications in cirrhosis. These infections are due to the concomitant presence of different facilitating mechanisms including changes in the intestinal flora and in the intestinal barrier, depression of activity of the reticuloendothelial system, decreased opsonic activity of the ascitic fluid, neutrophil leukocyte dysfunction and iatrogenic factors among others. The fact, that the probability of having a microorganism responsible for the infection quinolone resistant is higher than 30% should be taken into account when treating any infection in a cirrhotic patient receiving selective intestinal decontamination with quinolones, and therefore, quinolones as empiric treatment are not indicated. [source] Reflux as a cause of tracheoesophageal puncture failureTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 1 2009Kavita M. Pattani MD Abstract Objective: To evaluate the response to empiric reflux management in treatment of tracheoesophageal punctures (TEP) failures. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with failed TEP was performed (n = 37). Only those patients without any documented anatomic cause for failure (n = 22) were then further reviewed to determine if empiric treatment for reflux improved voicing. Evidence of reflux was determined by either using video flexible scope of the neopharynx, barium swallows, 24-hour pH probes, and /or transnasal esophagoscopy (TNE). In 13 of 22 patients who had voicing difficulties and no evidence of reflux on these tests, empiric treatment with antireflux medications had been documented. The 22 patients were closely monitored to determine the role of reflux therapy and subsequent voicing outcomes. Results: Of the 22 patients studied, 9 were noted to have granulation tissue on the tracheal side of the prosthesis. All nine patients had complete resolution of the granulation tissue after antireflux treatment, and seven of nine were able to voice again. Of the patients with no obvious reason for TEP failure who were empirically treated for reflux, 62% (8 of 13) had TEP voice after treatment. Seventy-seven percent of our patients (17 of 22) had a positive response to treatment with aggressive reflux therapy. Conclusions: Previous studies have demonstrated patients with a total laryngectomy and/or radiation therapy have increased reflux. This study addresses reflux as a potential cause of TEP voicing problems. We noted 41% (9 of 22) of patients with voicing difficulties had granulation tissue surrounding the prosthesis as a result of reflux. Aggressive antireflux therapy proved beneficial in eradicating this problem. Prophylactic antireflux therapy may be warranted for patients undergoing TEP to reduce voicing problems. Laryngoscope, 119:121,125, 2009 [source] Bedside Detection of Urine ,-Hydroxybutyrate in Diagnosing Metabolic AcidosisACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 8 2008Silas W. Smith MD Abstract Objectives:, While critically important, the rapid identification of the etiology of metabolic acidosis (MA) may be labor-intensive and time-consuming. Alcoholic, starvation, and severe diabetic ketoacidosis (AKA, SKA, and DKA, respectively) may produce ,-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) in marked excess of acetone (ACET) and acetoacetate (AcAc). Unfortunately, current urine dipstick technology poorly detects ACET and cannot measure BOHB. The inability to detect BOHB might delay therapy for ketoacidoses or provoke unnecessary evaluation or empiric treatment of other causes of MA, such as toxic alcohol poisoning. The authors tested the previous assertion that commonly available hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) would improve BOHB detection. The effectiveness of alkalinization and use of a silver nitrate (AgNO3) catalyst was also assessed. Methods:, Control and urine test specimens containing from 0.5 to 800 mmol/L ACET, AcAc, and BOHB were prepared. Urine specimens were oxidized with H2O2 (3%) 1:9 (H2O2:urine), alkalinized with potassium hydroxide (KOH; 10%), exposed to AgNO3 sticks, or altered with a combination of these methods in a random fashion. Three emergency physicians (EPs) blinded to the preparation technique evaluated urine dipsticks (Multistix, Bayer Corp.) placed in the specimens for "ketones." Results:, Multistix detected AcAc appropriately; ACET was detected only at high concentrations of ,600 mmol/L. Multistix failed to measure BOHB at all concentrations tested. H2O2 improved urinary BOHB detection, although not to clinically relevant levels (40 mmol/L). Alkalinization and AgNO3 sticks did not improve BOHB detection beyond this threshold. Conclusions:, Addition of H2O2 (3%), alkalinization, or AgNO3 sticks did not improve clinically meaningful urine BOHB detection. Clinicians should use direct methods to detect BOHB when suspected. [source] Comparison of ampicillin plus gentamicin vs. penicillin plus gentamicin in empiric treatment of neonates at risk of early onset sepsisACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 5 2010T Metsvaht Abstract Aim:, We aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of ampicillin (AMP) vs. penicillin (PEN) both combined with gentamicin in the empirical treatment of neonates at risk of early onset neonatal sepsis (EOS). Methods:, We performed an open label cluster randomized equivalence study in both Estonian neonatal intensive care units, including neonates with suspected EOS, aged less than 72 h. Primary end-point was clinical failure rate, expressed by need for change of antibiotic regimen within 72 h and/or 7-day all cause mortality. Bowel colonization was followed with biweekly perineal swab cultures. Results:, Incidence of proven EOS was 4.9%. Among neonates receiving AMP (n = 142) or PEN (n = 141) change of antibiotic regimen within 72 h (10/142 vs. 10/141; OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.40,2.59), 7-day mortality (11/142 vs. 14/141; OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.33,1.75) and over-all treatment failure (20/142 vs. 20/141; OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.52,1.97) occurred at similar rates. The only differences in gut colonization were lower number of patients colonised with enterococci, S. aureus and AMP resistant Acinetobacter spp. in AMP and lower number of those with S. haemolyticus and S. hominis in PEN arm. Conclusions:, AMP and PEN combined with gentamicin have similar effectiveness in the empiric treatment of suspected neonatal EOS. [source] | ||||||||||