Is There an Optimal Hematocrit Value for Cardiac Patients?

Is there an optimal hemoglobin value in the cardiac intensive care unit?

Anemia is common in patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit. Many unique issues must be considered in the treatment of the anemic cardiac patient. Coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction may significantly increase the risk of anemia. These patients have limited reserve because of a high extraction ratio of oxygen in the cardiac circulation. Left ventricular dysfunc...

Optimal hematocrit value in critically ill postoperative patients.

Failling hematocrit values are traditionally used to observe the course of active bleeding, since hematocrit values usually reflect acute blood losses. However, evidence from the literature suggests that, after volume replacement, some degree of normovolemic hemodilution may be desirable and that return to normal hematocrit values is not necessarily the appropriate goal of transfusion therapy. ...

Is There an Optimal Money Supply?: Discussion

Serum vitamin D in hypertensive patients versus healthy controls, Is there an association?

Background: Both vitamin D deficiency and hypertension are prevalent in the general population. Several observations indicate an association between vitamin D deficiency and high blood pressure. The present case-control study aimed to compare serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) in hypertensive patients versus healthy controls. Methods: One hundred patients aged 30-60 years with hypertension (...

Is there an optimal management for localized prostate cancer?

Widespread screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) has led to a significant increase in the detection of early stage, clinically localized prostate cancer (CaP). Various treatment options for localized CaP are discussed in this review article including active surveillance, radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and cryotherapy. The paucity of high-level evidence adds a considerable am...