Low-Intensity Heparin Infusion Compared With High-Intensity Heparin Infusion Dosing in Patients With Mechanical Mitral Valves: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Patients with a mechanical mitral valve have an increased risk of thrombosis, and guidelines recommend a higher international normalized ratio goal for vitamin K antagonists-based anticoagulation. Guidelines provide recommendations for bridging with unfractionated heparin; however, there is no clear guidance on the heparin infusion intensity that should be used. This study was a retrospective, single-center, cohort study of patients aged ≥18 years or older with a mechanical mitral valve admitted from June 2019 to September 2022 who were maintained on a singular heparin infusion intensity nomogram for at least 48 hours.

Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Obstetric Patients.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including both pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), is the leading cause of maternal death in developed countries. Pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of VTE due to physiologic changes during the obstetric period that promote a hypercoagulable state. Appropriate use of prophylactic anticoagulants can decrease the event rate of thrombus formation in at-risk patients.

Stewardship-Hospitalist Collaboration.

Hospitalists represent a rapidly emerging specialty group that treats a large proportion of hospitalized patients with infections. Antimicrobial stewardship programs and hospitalist groups that focus on building a collaborative approach have been extremely successful in optimizing antimicrobial prescribing and improving patient outcomes. We discuss the tools needed to build collaborative relationships, summarize published examples of successful stewardship-hospitalist collaboration, and provide guidance on developing collaborative interventions.