medicalstate: As the popularity of smartphone of tablet...
medicalstate: As the popularity of smartphone of tablet computing expands, so too does the library of apps. The following is a list of iOS apps that might be of interest or use for the curious, for the learners, and for the clerks. Laboratory LabDx: A reference tool for common laboratory investigations. Acid Plus: A calculator tool that helps tease out the type of acidotic or alkalotic process involved. Lytes: A basic reference to the common electrolyte abnormalities, the causes, signs, and symptoms. Calculators BiliTool: An online tool that has an optimized mobile format, this tool helps calculate b...
Source: Kidney Notes - May 25, 2013 Category: Urologists and Nephrologists Authors: Joshua Schwimmer Source Type: blogs
MRCP: Stop Already.
Conclusions
MRCP has a high rate of false normal results compared with IOC and is not as accurate as more invasive techniques. There is no need for preoperative MRCP in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis caused by stones.
MRCP (magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is a costly imaging modality (although one would have no idea how much it costs due to pricing opacity and lack of published data---I spent 30 minutes googling "how much does an MRCP cost" without finding a reliable estimate, try it yourself). I have found it to be one of the most overused studies in modern American medicine. T...
Source: Buckeye Surgeon - March 23, 2013 Category: Surgeons Authors: Jeffrey Parks MD Source Type: blogs
MRCP: Stop Already.
ConclusionsMRCP has a high rate of false normal results compared with IOC and is not as accurate as more invasive techniques. There is no need for preoperative MRCP in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis caused by stones.MRCP (magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is a costly imaging modality (although one would have no idea how much it costs due to pricing opacity and lack of published data---I spent 30 minutes googling "how much does an MRCP cost" without finding a reliable estimate, try it yourself). I have found it to be one of the most overused studies in modern American medicine. Typica...
Source: Buckeye Surgeon - March 22, 2013 Category: Surgery Authors: Jeffrey Parks MD FACS Source Type: blogs
Congestive Heart Failure
Pathophysiology of Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure is:
1) inability of heart to deliver sufficient cardiac output to meet physiologic needs
2) both diastolic and systolic phases are abnormal
3) initially, compensatory mechanisms occur(increased catecholamines, increased atrial natriuretic factor, myocardial hypertrophy), but eventual failure of these ensues causing congestive heart failure
4) result is increase in venous pressure with congestion of liver, spleen, and kidney (“backward failure”) and sodium retention, peripheral edema, and pulmonary sequelae (“forward” failure”...
Source: Inside Surgery - March 20, 2013 Category: Surgeons Authors: Editor Tags: Cardiology backward failure enlarged heart foward failure myocardial hypertrophy nutmeg liver peripheral edema Source Type: blogs
Case 250
Welcome to Case 250! Here is a challenging case (in a little more detail than normal) to commemorate this milestone post:A 90-year-old male from Missouri presented with a 3-day history of fever and dyspnea. His medical history included hypertension and splenectomy due to injury. He lived with his wife and reported no recent travel, pet or known tick exposure. On admission, he was febrile (temperature 40˚C) and hypotensive (105/58). Laboratory values of note were elevated leukocytes (13,100 cells/mL; 58% neutrophils), decreased hemoglobin (9.5 g/dL), low platelet count (106,000 cells/mL), increase liver fun...
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - March 17, 2013 Category: Pathologists Source Type: blogs
