Direct Oral Anticoagulant Use Early After Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: There is limited literature guiding the prescribing of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) early after cardiac surgery as this population has been excluded from landmark randomized controlled trials. This study aims to determine the rate of in-hospital DOAC use compared with warfarin early after cardiac surgery, evaluate factors associated with DOAC use, determine difference in postoperative length of stay, and characterize bleeding events.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in adult patients with indications for anticoagulation and receiving either a DOAC or warfarin after cardiac surgery during their index hospitalization.

The safety of high-dose dexmedetomidine after cardiac surgery: a historical cohort study.

Purpose: The off-label use of dexmedetomidine beyond the monograph-recommended maximum dose of 0.7 µg·kg·hr is common in postoperative cardiac surgical units; however, limited data exist on the association of higher doses and adverse hemodynamic effects. We sought to compare the rate of hypotension or bradycardia in cardiac surgery patients receiving peak infusion doses below and above 0.

Safety and Efficacy of Non-Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulant Use Early After Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To determine the safety and efficacy of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) initiated early after cardiac surgery.

Data Sources: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, and MEDLINE (database inception to January 20, 2021), www.clinicaltrials.

Therapeutic Controversies in the Medical Management of Valvular Heart Disease.

Objective: To evaluate the evidence for common therapeutic controversies in the medical management of valvular heart disease (VHD).

Data Sources: A literature search of PubMed (inception to December 2020) was performed using the terms (ACE) or (ARBs) and (AS); and and (AR) or (MS).

Study Selection And Data Extraction: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses conducted in humans and published in English that reported ≥1 clinical outcome were included.

A Single Prophylactic Dose of Ondansetron Given at Cessation of Postoperative Propofol Sedation Decreases Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is a common occurrence after cardiac surgery. However, in contrast to other surgical populations, routine PONV prophylaxis is not a standard of care in cardiac surgery. We hypothesized that routine administration of a single prophylactic dose of ondansetron (4 mg) at the time of stopping postoperative propofol sedation before extubation in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit would decrease the incidence of PONV.

Stability of Dabigatran Etexilate in Manufacturer's Blister Pack, Unit-Dose Packaging, and Community Pharmacy Blister Pack.

Background: Dabigatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is indicated for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism and for stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation. The manufacturer recommends that dabigatran etexilate be retained in the original packaging until administration. Currently, no information exists about the stability of dabigatran etexilate outside its original packaging.

Haloperidol dosing strategies in the treatment of delirium in the critically ill.

Delirium is the most common mental disturbance in critically-ill patients and results in significant morbidity and mortality. Haloperidol is a preferred agent for the treatment of delirium in this population because of its rapid onset of action and lack of hemodynamic effects. Despite its widespread use in the critical care setting, most of the relevant data are obtained from case series or extrapolated from non-critically-ill populations.