Research and Reviews in the Fastlane 041

This study prospectively validated whether an age-adjusted D-dimer cutoff was associated with an increased diagnostic yield of D-dimer in elderly patients with suspected PE. Compared with a fixed D-dimer cutoff, the combination of pretest clinical probability assessment with age-adjusted D-dimer cutoff was associated with a larger number of patients in whom PE could be considered ruled out with a low likelihood of subsequent clinical venous thromboembolism. So if this is not your clinical practice already, maybe time to use age adjust d-dimer values? Recommended by: Jerremy Fried Read More: Age Adjusted D-Dimer Testing (REBEL EM) Trauma, Resuscitation Harvey V, Perrone J, Kim P.Does the Use of Tranexamic Acid Improve Trauma Mortality? Ann Emerg Med 2014; 63(4):460-462. PMID 24095056 [Annals Full Text] This is a review of the literature regarding tranexamic acid use in traumatic hemorrhage showing that tranexamic acid significantly decrease mortality in bleeding trauma patients, without significantly increasing serious prothrombotic complications if administered within 3 hours of injury. There is, however, no evidence of benefit in patients with traumatic brain injury. The authors recommend early treatment with tranexamic acid in trauma patients without isolated brain injuries who have or are at risk for significant hemorrhage and in patients who receive resuscitation with blood products, particularly if they require massive transfusion or have a high risk of death at bas...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Clinical Research R&R in the FASTLANE critical care Emergency Medicine Intensive Care literature recommendations research and reviews Source Type: blogs