Cost-reduction strategy for isoproterenol use in radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures.

Purpose: A cost-reduction strategy for isoproterenol use in radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures was evaluated.

Summary: A medication-use evaluation at a 454-bed tertiary medical center revealed that the cardiac catheterization laboratory was the highest user of isoproterenol. Isoproterenol was removed from all AcuDose-Rx machines Omnicell, Mountain View, CA, and compounding was performed by pharmacy personnel.

Blood pressure management in acute hypertensive emergency.

Purpose: The frequency with which patients coming to an emergency room with hypertensive emergency received excessive or inadequate blood-pressure reduction was studied.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients who were treated for hypertensive emergency at a 696-bed university teaching hospital between November 2003 and April 2004. Patients who received a continuous i.

Rates of hospitalizations and emergency department visits in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease taking beta-blockers.

Study Objective: To determine the rates of hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits during cardioselective and nonselective beta-blocker therapy in patients with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Design: Retrospective, observational cohort study.

Data Source: Electronic medical records database.

Lanthanum carbonate.

Objective: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety profile of lanthanum carbonate, a phosphate binder for chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Data Sources: Information was selected from PubMed (1965-October 2005). All studies presented as scientific posters and abstracts from nephrology meetings from 1999 to 2005 were also included.