Injection opioid use as a predictor of treatment outcomes among methadone-maintained opioid-dependent patients.

BACKGROUND: Injection opioid use is associated with more severe health and psychosocial consequences relative to non-injection use, but few studies have examined whether injection use is associated with methadone maintenance treatment outcomes. The present study examined differential MMT outcomes among opioid injectors and non-injectors. METHODS: Data were extracted from the clinic charts of opioid-dependent MMT patients (N = 290; n = 115 injectors) enrolled in a university-affiliated, urban MMT clinic. Injection status was examined as a predictor of short- (3-month opioid, cocaine, benzodiazepine and cannabis urine drug screens) and long- (days retained in treatment) term MMT outcomes. RESULTS: Bivariate analyses revealed injection users were less likely to be African American and to have completed high school, were more likely to have started heroin use before age 21, to report having hepatitis C, to report a baseline cocaine use disorder, and had higher methadone doses at 3-months into treatment. Injection status significantly predicted a greater proportion of cocaine-positive urine drug screens in the first 3 months of treatment, but did not significantly predict opioid, benzodiazepine or cannabis drug screens, or length of treatment retention. CONCLUSION: This is one of a handful of studies to examine injection status as a predictor of MMT outcomes. Injection status is associated with cocaine use early in treatment, which has implications for the focus of treatment.

Antithromboembolic Strategies for Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

We set out to synthesize available data on antithrombotic strategies for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), with a focus on triple antithrombotic therapy (triple therapy [TT]; dual antiplatelet therapy plus an anticoagulant) versus dual therapy (DT; one antiplatelet agent and an anticoagulant). We searched OVID MEDLINE and PubMed from January 2005 to September 2017 using the search terms oral anticoagulant, triple therapy, dual therapy, acute coronary syndrome, percutaneous coronary intervention, and atrial fibrillation (limited to randomized controlled trials, observational studies, English language, minimum 6-12 months of follow-up, minimum 100 human patients). We excluded surveys, literature reviews, articles not directly related to TT versus DT, incomplete studies, and short-term in-hospital studies. All eligible studies were reviewed to evaluate possible antithrombotic management strategies for patients with AF undergoing PCI. Extracted studies were categorized according to the specific anticoagulant (vitamin K antagonist vs. direct-acting oral anticoagulant) and P2Y12 inhibitor used. Each category review was followed by a discussion providing insight into the quality of evidence and implications for practice. We found that the risk of bleeding with TT was higher than with DT, without demonstrated added benefit of reducing major adverse cardiovascular events. TT use should be minimized in patients with high bleeding risk, and patient-specific factors should be critically analyzed to select appropriate antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents.

Serotonin Syndrome in a Pediatric Patient After Vilazodone Ingestion.

Serotonin syndrome (SS) is a serious toxicity that manifests with symptoms such as tremor, hyperthermia, agitation, and altered mental status that may lead to seizures, coma, or death. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may precipitate SS, particularly in combination with other drugs that possess serotonergic activity. We present a case of SS in a 14-month-old after an ingestion of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor vilazodone.

Effects of narrator empathy in a computer delivered brief intervention for alcohol use.

Computer-delivered, brief interventions (CDBIs) have been an increasingly popular way to treat alcohol use disorders; however, very few studies have examined which characteristics of CDBIs maximize intervention effectiveness. The literature has consistently demonstrated that therapist empathy is associated with reduced substance use in in-person therapy; however, it is unclear whether this principle applies to CDBIs. Therefore, the study aimed to examine whether the presence of an empathic narrator increased intentions to reduce heavy drinking in a CDBI. Results suggest that the presence of empathy increases motivation to reduce drinking, and makes participants feel more supported and less criticized.

Observation of Patients Transitioned to an Oral Loop Diuretic Before Discharge and Risk of Readmission for Acute Decompensated Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is associated with high 30-day readmission rates and places significant financial burden on the health care system. The aim of this study was to determine if the duration of observation on an oral loop diuretic before discharge is associated with a reduction in 30-day HF readmission in patients with acute decompensated HF (ADHF). METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a retrospective study of adult patients admitted for ADHF at a large academic medical center. A total of 123 patients were included. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. The primary outcome of 30-day HF readmission occurred in 11 of 61 patients (18%) observed on an oral loop diuretic for <24 hours and in 2 of 62 patients (3.2%) observed on an oral loop diuretic for ≥24 hours (P = .023). Readmissions for 60- and 90-day HF were also significantly lower in patients observed for ≥24 hours (P = .014 and P = .049, respectively). Associations became stronger after multivariate analysis (P < .001). Observation for <24 hours and previous admission within 30 days were independent predictors of 30-day HF readmission (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Observation of patients on an oral loop diuretic for <24 hours was associated with significantly higher 30-day HF readmission. Therefore, observation on an oral loop diuretic for ≥24 hours before discharge in patients presenting with ADHF should be strongly considered.

Use of an argatroban-based purge solution in a percutaneous ventricular assist device.

PURPOSE: The use of an argatroban-based percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) purge solution in a patient with suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is described. SUMMARY: A 70-year-old woman in cardiogenic shock was admitted to a coronary care unit after being discovered unresponsive at home. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a low ejection fraction and findings consistent with takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Administration of multiple inotropes and vasopressors was initially required for hemodynamic support. The patient was implanted with an Impella pVAD (Abiomed, Inc., Danvers, MA) using a heparin-based purge solution; an i.v. heparin infusion was initiated for supplemental systemic anticoagulation. Over the next 24 hours, the patient's platelet count decreased from 168,000 to 37,000 cells/µL. Given a differential diagnosis that included HIT, the patient was transitioned to an argatroban-based purge solution. Due to prolonged activated partial thromboplastin times, a systemic argatroban infusion was not initiated, and the patient remained fully anticoagulated throughout pVAD support with only the argatroban-based purge solution. An HIT antibody test was negative. On hospitalization day 9 (day 6 of pVAD support with argatroban use), the patient became hemodynamically stable and was weaned off pVAD support. Three days later, the platelet count had recovered to 117,000 cells/µL (from a nadir of 21,000 cells/µL). During pVAD support, the patient developed hemolytic anemia with minimal bleeding complications. CONCLUSION: Argatroban was used as a purge solution anticoagulant in a patient with an Impella pVAD and found to be a safe and effective alternative to heparin.

Impact of diabetic ketoacidosis management in the medical intensive care unit after order set implementation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of compliance to the 2006 and 2009 ADA DKA guidelines in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) at a large academic medical centre after the implementation of a computerised DKA order set and protocol. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of adult patients with DKA admitted to the MICU. Results of pre-order set (PRE) were compared to those of data post-order set (POST). The primary outcome was a composite administration of intravenous fluid resuscitation in the first 24 h, insulin bolus and initial insulin infusion rate. KEY FINDINGS: Twelve of 60 patients (20%) in the PRE group received treatment compliant with the 2006 guidelines versus 14 of 55 patients (25.5%) in the POST group (OR 1.22 95% CI 0.44 to 3.4, P = 0.51). Compliance to the 2009 guidelines was significantly higher in the POST group (31.7% versus 65.5%, OR 4.44 95% CI 1.8 to 10.92, P = 0.0004). Compliance for individual components was 26.7% versus 70.9% for fluid resuscitation (P = 0.0001), 55% versus 49.1% for insulin bolus (P = 0.58) and 60% versus 81.3% for initial insulin infusion rate (P = 0.014), respectively. Time to DKA resolution was decreased (P = 0.04), and hypoglycaemia was increased (P = 0.0022). CONCLUSION: Implementation of a computerised DKA order set and protocol was associated with improved compliance to the 2009 ADA DKA guidelines, 24-h fluid resuscitation, initial insulin infusion rate, time to DKA resolution and appropriate transition to subcutaneous insulin. However, patients in the POST implementation group were more likely to exhibit hypoglycaemia. Future assessment is warranted.

Safe and Effective Use of Pharmacologic and Device Therapy for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an uncommon, idiopathic complication of pregnancy associated with significant (10-30%) mortality. The disease occurs late in pregnancy or in the months following delivery, resulting in reduced systolic function and heart failure (HF) symptoms. Limited direction is provided for the management of PPCM, and the safe and effective use of medications in pregnant and breastfeeding women with PPCM presents a unique challenge. Although several HF therapies in pregnant and lactating women are supported by robust evidence, evidence to support the use of other therapies is significantly lacking. Current guidelines recommend treatment as in other forms of HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) but with consideration for the important nuances in this population as well as the unique and potential teratogenic effects of these therapies. Since most patients with PPCM recover their LVEF, the duration of therapy is currently unknown and warrants further study. We review the available literature surrounding pharmacologic and device therapy for PPCM and provide insight into managing patients with the condition.

Weight based heparin dosing for thromboembolic disease is associated with earlier anticoagulation in surgical patients.

INTRODUCTION: Achievement of early therapeutic anticoagulation with unfractionated heparin (UFH) is associated with improved outcomes in thromboembolic disease. Weight based UFH expedites time to therapeutic anticoagulation. Treatment with UFH is challenging in surgical patients due to their high propensity for bleeding. We sought to test the hypothesis that an initial weight based UFH infusion in surgical patients increases the percentage of patients who achieve early therapeutic anticoagulation without increasing the risk of hemorrhagic events. METHODS: Using a non-concurrent retrospective cohort study design, adult surgical patients receiving UFH for venous thromboembolism (VTE) at a tertiary care center were included. Two groups were identified: the weight based (WB) and the under-dosed (UD) heparin groups. For our primary outcome, we compared percentage of patients in each group that achieved a therapeutic PTT within 24 h. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of supratherapeutic PTT levels, hemorrhagic events, and complications associated with VTE. RESULTS: 73 subjects met study criteria, which included 8 subjects in the WB group and 65 in the UD group. The demographic, baseline laboratory, admitting service and type of VTE were similar between the 2 groups. The percentages of WB and UD subjects who achieved a therapeutic PTT within 24 h were 75% and 28%, respectively (p < 0.01). There was no difference in the incidence of supratherapeutic PTT or hemorrhagic events. CONCLUSION: Surgical patients who received an initial weight based UFH infusion achieved earlier therapeutic anticoagulation compared to under-dosed UFH without increasing the occurrence of supratherapeutic PTT levels or hemorrhagic events.