Tao Xu, MD
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Rates, predictors, and variability of interhospital transfers
November 7, 2017
Clinical question: What is the national frequency of interhospital transfers, and are there any patient or hospital factors that predict these transfers?
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Rib fracture diagnosis in the panscan era
November 6, 2017
Clinical question: Do rib fractures observed on chest CT carry the same morbidity and mortality risk as those observed in chest radiograph?
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Mortality risks associated with emergency admission during weekends and public holidays
November 3, 2017
Clinical question: What factors contribute to increased mortality in weekend hospital admissions?
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D-Dimer Not Reliable Marker to Stop Anticoagulation Therapy
May 5, 2015
Clinical question: In patients with a first unprovoked VTE, is it safe to use a normalized D-dimer test to stop anticoagulation therapy? Background: The risk of VTE recurrence after stopping anticoagulation is higher in patients who have elevated D-dimer levels after treatment.
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Noninvasive Ventilation Improves Outcomes for COPD Inpatients
May 5, 2015
Clinical question: Do patients hospitalized with acute COPD exacerbations have improved outcomes with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) compared to those treated with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV)? Background: Previous studies have shown that in select patients, NIV has a mortality benefit ov
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Bova Risk Model Predicts 30-Day Pulmonary Embolism-Related Complications
May 5, 2015
Clinical question: Can the Bova risk model stratify patients with acute PE into stages of increasing risk for 30-day pulmonary embolism (PE)-related complications? Background: The Bova score is based on four variables assessed at the time of PE diagnosis: heart rate, systolic blood pressure, card
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Intracranial Bleeding Risk for Head Injury Patients on Warfarin
May 5, 2015
High bleeding rates reported for patients taking warfarin after minor, minimal head injuries
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Enriched Nutritional Formulas Help Heal Pressure Ulcers
May 5, 2015
Arginine, zinc, antioxidant-supplemented formulas improve healing in malnourished patients
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High-Volume Hospitals Have Higher Readmission Rates
May 5, 2015
Clinical question: Is there an association between hospital volume and hospital readmission rates? Background: There is an established association between high patient volume and reduced complications or mortality after surgical procedures; however, readmission represents a different type of qual
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Hospital Testing Overuse Done to Reassure Patients, Families
May 5, 2015
Clinical Question: What is the extent of, and factors associated with, testing overuse in U.S.