The Choice between Plasma-Based Common Coagulation Tests and Cell-Based Viscoelastic Tests in Monitoring Hemostatic Competence: Not an either-or Proposition.

There has been a significant interest in the last decade in the use of viscoelastic tests (VETs) to determine the hemostatic competence of bleeding patients. Previously, common coagulation tests (CCTs) such as the prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) were used to assist in the guidance of blood component and hemostatic adjunctive therapy for these patients. However, the experience of decades of VET use in liver failure with transplantation, cardiac surgery, and trauma has now spread to obstetrical hemorrhage and congenital and acquired coagulopathies.

Viscoelastic Hemostatic Assays for Orthopedic Trauma and Elective Procedures.

The application of viscoelastic hemostatic assays (VHAs) (e.g., thromboelastography (TEG) and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM)) in orthopedics is in its relative infancy when compared with other surgical fields.

Prototype Development: Context-Driven Dynamic XML Ophthalmologic Data Capture Application.

Background: The capture and integration of structured ophthalmologic data into electronic health records (EHRs) has historically been a challenge. However, the importance of this activity for patient care and research is critical.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a prototype of a context-driven dynamic extensible markup language (XML) ophthalmologic data capture application for research and clinical care that could be easily integrated into an EHR system.

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 36 countries, for 2004-2009.

The results of a surveillance study conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) from January 2004 through December 2009 in 422 intensive care units (ICUs) of 36 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe are reported. During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN; formerly the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system [NNIS]) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infections, we gathered prospective data from 313,008 patients hospitalized in the consortium's ICUs for an aggregate of 2,194,897 ICU bed-days. Despite the fact that the use of devices in the developing countries' ICUs was remarkably similar to that reported in US ICUs in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were significantly higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals; the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in the INICC ICUs of 6.

Late-onset chemosis in patients with head or neck tumors.

Purpose: To describe a series of patients with chemosis and a history of head or neck tumor, and to propose possible mechanisms for the findings.

Methods: Retrospective, consecutive case series (1993-2001), with review of: site and histopathologic type of the primary tumor; dates and details of tumor treatment; approximate date of chemosis onset; ocular findings and results of orbital, head, and neck imaging upon referral to the authors; and follow-up outcome.

Results: Three male and 3 female patients ranged from 35-68 years of age.