Efficacy and toxicity of amiodarone for the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias

Amiodarone is an effective agent for all types of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias regardless of mechanism and may, in fact, control a high percentage of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias refractory to conventional antiarrhythmic agents. However, its toxicity should temper enthusiasm for the use of the medication in non-life-threatening arrhythmias. As always, when recommending specific therapies the potential benefit should be weighed in light of the related risk. In patients with life disordering, drug-refractory atrial fibrillation, it seems reasonable to attempt control with amiodarone. Likewise in patients with ectopic atrial tachycardias refractory to conventional agents, this seems reasonable as well. Other and better therapies are available for patients with life-threatening arrhythmias associated with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. While amiodarone is moderately effective in these patients, the advent of improved surgical techniques and the relatively low risk of an operation make surgery the treatment of choice. The role of IV amiodarone, acutely, in the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias remains to be defined.     

A study of the use of intravenous cannulas for medical emergencies in Newham--implications for financial savings

A study of intravenous (i.v.) cannula usage for medical emergencies admitted to hospitals in the Newham Health District was undertaken during two defined periods (24 and 35 days). Almost half the cannulas inserted (47%) were not flushed following an initial bolus injection of heparinized saline. The duration that cannulas remained in a vein ranged from 24 hours to 8 days (median 2 days) and inflammation around the cannula site was related to the length of time since insertion but unrelated to whether the cannula was flushed regularly or to the type of fluid used. Our findings indicate a substantial wastage of i.v. cannulas due to difficulties with insertion and suggest that isotonic saline, without heparin, is effective in maintaining cannula patency for 48 hours. It is concluded that these findings are not unique to the Newham Health District and worthwhile financial savings should be achieved throughout the NHS if clinicians reconsider the indications and use of i.v. cannulas for their patients.     

Emergency Minilaparotomy Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis: Prospective Randomized Trial—Implications for the Laparoscopic Era

p = 0.82), operative difficulty on a 1 to 10 scale (5.2 ± 1.5 versus 4.6 ± 1.6, respectively; p = 0.177), and complication rate (11% and 17%, respectively; p = 0.19). Significantly lower analgesia requirements were noted in the MC group: 27.5 ± 14.6 mg of morphine sulfate compared to 44.5 ± 13.2 mg in the CC group ( p < 0.001). In addition, the duration of hospital stay was significantly shorter for MC patients (3.1 ± 1.0 days) than in CC patients (4.7 ± 1.2 days) ( p < 0.001). Twenty-two patients (73.3%) in the MC group were reported to return to normal daily activities 2 weeks after the operation, compared to only 12 (40%) in the CC group ( p = 0.0028). MC is safe and applicable as an emergency procedure for acute cholecystitis. It is superior to CC in terms of convalescence and cosmesis. The results of MC in the setting of acute cholecystitis compare favorably with the published results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.