Recent Evidence Challenges Four Inpatient Management Habits
By: Sherry Boschert, Hospitalist News Digital Networ. 11/06/12
"Why did you order that test? Dr. Leonard S. Feldman wants you to turn off the autopilot and consider the evidence from the medical literature on the following four practices:
• Is the best target hematocrit for a cardiac patient 30% (or a hemoglobin level of 10 g/dL)?
• Should nasogastric lavage be routine in patients with suspected GI bleeds?
• Is it helpful to measure the fractional excretion of sodium or fractional excretion of urea nitrogen when evaluating acute kidney injury?
• Are daily chest x-rays a good idea in patients on mechanical ventilation in an ICU or step-down unit? "