Octreotide Added to a Proton Pump Inhibitor Versus a Proton Pump Inhibitor Alone in Nonvariceal Upper-Gastrointestinal Bleeds.

Background: Literature indicating clinically relevant benefits of an adjunctive somatostatin analog to standard therapies in nonvariceal upper-gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) is lacking. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to find the association between outcomes in patients with NVUGIB treated with octreotide and a proton pump inhibitor (PPI; combination group) compared with those treated with a PPI alone. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults admitted within a 5-hospital health care system with a NVUGIB treated with a PPI continuous infusion with or without an octreotide infusion. Notable exclusion criteria included varices, history of cirrhosis without endoscopy, or active gastrointestinal cancer. The primary outcome was association of combination treatment versus PPI alone with hospital length of stay (LOS). Results: A total of 180 patients were included (combination group: n = 90; PPI: n = 90). In univariate analyses, the median hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) LOS in the combination group versus PPI was 6.1 versus 4.9 days (P = 0.25) and 2.3 versus 1.9 days (P = 0.24), and rebleeding and mortality occurred in 9% versus 12% (P = 0.63) and 6.7% versus 5.6% (P = 1.00) of patients. Median units of packed red blood cells in the combination therapy versus PPI group was 3 vs 2 units (P = 0.43). After propensity score adjustment in multivariable analyses, hospital and ICU LOS, rebleeding, and mortality all remained nonsignificant. Conclusion and Relevance: Our study observed no difference in clinical end points. This suggests that octreotide provides no additional major clinical benefit in NVUGIB, and PPI therapy alone may be sufficient.

Should Pharmacies Be Included in Medication Reconciliation? A Report of Recurrent Valproic Acid Toxicity.

Including outpatient pharmacies in the medication reconciliation process upon hospital discharge is not commonly performed. This case highlights the consequences of a patient refilling a discontinued prescription for valproic acid (VPA). We present a 32-year old male found unresponsive after ingesting delayed release divalproex sodium. Cerebral edema was visualized on magnetic resonance imaging. Hemodialysis and levo-carnitine treatment led to improved mental status, and VPA was discontinued. The same patient presented with VPA overdose eight months later after he continued to fill an outdated prescription. This case highlights consequences of VPA toxicity; it also demonstrates an opportunity to improve patient safety and high-value care by collaborating with outpatient pharmacies in the medication reconciliation process upon hospital discharge.

Characteristics of Hospital and Emergency Care Super-utilizers with Multiple Chronic Conditions.

BACKGROUND: Targeted care transitions programs may improve the value of hospital-based health care. Super-utilizing patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) are thought to be particularly amenable to care transitions interventions. OBJECTIVES: To identify characteristics, future utilization patterns, and health outcomes for super-utilizers with MCC. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of patients receiving care in an urban multi-hospital system in Tennessee over 3 years. Adult patients with Medicaid or Medicare insurance, or both, MCC, and multiple hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits in a 6-month period were included. The primary outcome measures were numbers of hospitalizations and ED visits in the 12 months after the 6-month period of high utilization. Secondary outcomes included 30-day readmissions and discharge disposition. RESULTS: Of 1537 super-utilizing patients, 59.0% (n = 907) had at least two targeted chronic conditions. This final study cohort (n = 638) experienced a mean of 3.2 hospitalizations and 2.8 ED visits without hospitalization in the 12-month follow-up period. During follow-up, 26% experienced one or more 30-day readmission(s) within the health care system. Despite their medical complexity, 46% reported not having a regular primary care provider, and 48% had presenting pain scores ≥8/10. Only 1% of the visits to the ED were triaged as nonurgent. CONCLUSIONS: Medicare and Medicaid patients with high baseline utilization and MCC experience continued high health care utilization. Patient characteristics, future utilization patterns, and health outcomes suggest the subgroup identified is an important subgroup of super-utilizers that merits attention because they may be particularly amenable to intervention.

Effect of a pharmacist intervention on clinically important medication errors after hospital discharge: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Clinically important medication errors are common after hospital discharge. They include preventable or ameliorable adverse drug events (ADEs), as well as medication discrepancies or nonadherence with high potential for future harm (potential ADEs). OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a tailored intervention on the occurrence of clinically important medication errors after hospital discharge. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial with concealed allocation and blinded outcome assessors. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00632021) SETTING: Two tertiary care academic hospitals. PATIENTS: Adults hospitalized with acute coronary syndromes or acute decompensated heart failure. INTERVENTION: Pharmacist-assisted medication reconciliation, inpatient pharmacist counseling, low-literacy adherence aids, and individualized telephone follow-up after discharge. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was the number of clinically important medication errors per patient during the first 30 days after hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included preventable or ameliorable ADEs, as well as potential ADEs. RESULTS: Among 851 participants, 432 (50.8%) had 1 or more clinically important medication errors; 22.9% of such errors were judged to be serious and 1.8% life-threatening. Adverse drug events occurred in 258 patients (30.3%) and potential ADEs in 253 patients (29.7%). The intervention did not significantly alter the per-patient number of clinically important medication errors (unadjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.77 to 1.10]) or ADEs (unadjusted incidence rate ratio, 1.09 [CI, 0.86 to 1.39]). Patients in the intervention group tended to have fewer potential ADEs (unadjusted incidence rate ratio, 0.80 [CI, 0.61 to 1.04]). LIMITATION: The characteristics of the study hospitals and participants may limit generalizability. CONCLUSION: Clinically important medication errors were present among one half of patients after hospital discharge and were not significantly reduced by a health-literacy-sensitive, pharmacist-delivered intervention. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Pharmacotherapy of systemic sclerosis.

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an uncommon autoimmune disease with variable degrees of fibroproliferation in blood vessels and certain organs of the body. There is currently no cure. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature regarding pathogenesis and treatment of complications of SSc. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: All available articles regarding research related to SSc pathogenesis and treatment listed in the PubMed database were searched; relevant articles were then reviewed and used as sources of information for this review. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: This review attempts to highlight for the reader some current thought regarding mechanisms of SSc pathogenesis and how autoimmunity relates to vascular changes and fibrogenesis of the disease, as well as providing a review of results of completed clinical trials and current ongoing clinical trials that address organ-specific or global therapies for this disease. This can aid physicians who provide medical care for patients with SSc. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: SSc is a complex autoimmune disease, the pathogenesis of which, although not completely understood, is under active study; new insights into pathogenesis are continually being discovered. Although there is no effective disease-modifying treatment for patients with SSc, quality of life, morbidity and mortality can be improved by using targeted therapy directed at affecting the consequences of damage to lungs, blood vessels, kidneys and the gastrointestinal tract. Innovative approaches to treating SSc are under intense investigation.