The search-inference framework: a proposed strategy for novice clinical problem solving.

Context: Medical education in the clinical clerkship years emphasises the systematic collection and organisation of patient information to be combined with domain-specific knowledge of disease processes. Eventually, novice clinical problem solvers will learn to recognise patterns within the patient data ('illness scripts') which suggest the main diagnostic possibilities. Before novice problem solvers develop these illness scripts, pattern recognition may not be effective for solving clinical problems.

Thromboembolic events during continuous vasopressin infusions: a retrospective evaluation.

Background: Published guidelines suggest that vasopressin has a role in shock treatment, although its safety has not been adequately evaluated in a clinical setting. Vasopressin causes platelet aggregation and has been associated with the release of factor VIII coagulant and von Willebrand factor.

Objective: To compare the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with a diagnosis of shock who received vasopressin with those who did not receive vasopressin for hemodynamic support.

Differences in the evaluation and management of exercise-induced bronchospasm between family physicians and pulmonologists.

Previous studies have demonstrated that specialists and generalists differ in the evaluation and management of asthma especially in terms of use of objective testing. We speculated that there also may be differences in the diagnosis and management of exercise-induced respiratory complaints. An Internet survey was sent to samples of pulmonologists and family physicians.

Survey of current practices in fellowship orientation.

Background: The transition from medical resident to subspecialty fellow is a critical time period in fellowship training that has not been well described. The current practices of fellow orientation in pulmonary and critical care training programs are not known.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe orientation practices for training programs in the United States.

Body mass index is independently associated with hospital mortality in mechanically ventilated adults with acute lung injury.

Objective: To determine the association between body mass index (BMI) and hospital mortality for critically ill adults.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: One-hundred six intensive care units (ICUs) in 84 hospitals.

Toxicity of Food Drug and Cosmetic Blue No. 1 dye in critically ill patients.

Food Drug and Cosmetic Blue No. 1 dye (FD&C Blue No. 1) is commonly added to enteral nutrition formulations in order to facilitate the detection of gastric aspirate in tracheal secretions of critically ill patients.