Increased versus stable doses of inhaled corticosteroids for exacerbations of chronic asthma in adults and children
Authors' conclusions: Current evidence does not support increasing the dose of ICS as part of a self initiated action plan to treat exacerbations in adults and children with mild to moderate asthma. Increased ICS dose is not associated with a statistically significant reduction in the odds of requiring rescue oral corticosteroids for the exacerbation, or of having adverse events, compared with a stable ICS dose. Wide confidence intervals for several outcomes mean we cannot rule out possible benefits of this approach.
Temporary fluid response induced by passive leg raising may help identify critically ill patients responsive to fluid therapy (Crit Care Med 2016 May)
Norepinephrine might decrease 1-year mortality compared to dopamine but may have similar 1-year mortality compared to other vasopressors in patients with hypotensive shock (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016 Feb 15)
Antithrombin III may not reduce mortality and may increase bleeding in critically ill patients (Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016 Feb 8)
Updated CPR advice The BMA, the Royal College of Nursing and the Resuscitation Council (UK) have produced updated joint guidance on the ethical principles that should inform how decisions about CPR are made and communicated. This latest 2016 revision of guidance is in response to public and professional debate about CPR decisions, and to recent statutory changes and legal judgements.
Basic versus advanced life support for medical emergencies A retrospective cohort study of US data found that people with major trauma or stroke who received basic life support from ambulance crews had better survival than those who received advanced life support.
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