June 25, 2025
Medetomidine complicates fentanyl withdrawal
Physicians may be familiar with the drug dexmedetomidine from ICU care. An expert explains how to handle its growing presence in street drugs.
Between discharge and the next stop
A clinician team took over postdischarge lab follow-up and nonurgent imaging.
Most septic shock patients had AKI at admission, later recovered kidney function
Having stage 1 acute kidney injury (AKI) was not associated with any increase in mortality risk for septic shock patients, but having stage 2 or 3 AKI did increase risk, a retrospective study found. The kidneys fully recovered in 88.2%, 78.5%, and 63.2% of patients with stage 1, 2, and 3 AKI, respectively.
Low score on LKA associated with higher patient mortality, ABIM study finds
An analysis of hospitalists participating in the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment (LKA) found that those with scores in the bottom quartile had more patients who died or were readmitted within seven days than those who scored higher.
No difference in mortality, readmission risk with lactated Ringer's vs. normal saline
In an open-label trial, seven Canadian hospitals used lactated Ringer's solution for 12 weeks and seven used normal saline. Then they switched. Patient outcomes didn't vary significantly by which fluid was used.
Early anti-enterococcal empirical therapy may not improve survival in BSI
Having more comorbid conditions or an enterococcal bloodstream infection (BSI) without an identified source independently predicted 14- and 30-day mortality, but receiving early empiric therapy did not, according to a retrospective cohort study in Italy and Spain.
Take a quiz about the June 18 issue!
Every week, ACP Hospitalist posts a question about the previous week's issue. See how well you remember what you've read compared to other readers.