Bottom line: Long-term survivors of OHCA from VF have long-term memory impairment compared with the normal population at the same age and education level.
Citation: Mateen FJ, Josephs KA, Trenerry MR, et al. Long-term cognitive outcomes following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Neurology. 2011;77:1438-1445.
Clinical Shorts
Risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma due to Barrett’s esophagus in the absence of dysplasia is minor
Danish population cohort study shows annual risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma for patients with Barrett’s esophagus, with or without low-grade dysplasia, to be four to five times lower than previously reported.
Citation: Hvid-Jensen F, Pedersen L, Drewes AM, Sørensen HT, Funch-Jensen P. Incidence of adenocarcinoma among patients with Barrett’s esophagus. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:1375-1383.
Pneumonia after stroke increases 30-day and ONE-year mortality
In this cohort, the rate of stroke-associated pneumonia was 7.1% with increased 30-day and one-year mortality. Organized stroke care did not affect this rate but reduced 30-day mortality.
Citation: Finlayson O, Kapral M, Hall R, et al. Risk factors, inpatient care, and outcomes of pneumonia after ischemia stroke. Neurology. 2011;77:1338-1345.
Therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest does not affect time to awakening
A retrospective review at a large academic institution showed that cardiac arrest survivors enrolled in therapeutic hypothermia protocols awoke within three days of the arrest, just like nonhypothermia patients.
Citation: Fugate JE, Wijdicks EFM, White R, Rabinstein AA. Does therapeutic hypothermia affect time to awakening in cardiac arrest survivors? Neurology. 2011;77:1346-1350.
Variability in changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 second over time in COPD
The rate of change in FEV(1) among patients with COPD is highly variable, with increased rates of decline among current smokers, patients with bronchodilator reversibility, and patients with emphysema.
Citation: Vestbo J, Edwards LD, Scanlon PD, et al. Changes in forced expiratory volume in 1 second over time in COPD. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:1184-1192.
Baclofen reduces benzodiazepine requirements in alcohol withdrawal syndrome
A small prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial did demonstrate decreased requirements for lorazepam, but no improvement in symptoms, by using scheduled low doses of baclofen during alcohol withdrawal.
Citation: Lyon JE, Khan RA, Gessert CE, Larson PL, Renier CM. Treating alcohol withdrawal with oral baclofen: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Hosp Med. 2011;6:474-479.
ESRD patients have a higher long-term risk of peptic ulcer rebleeding
This prospective cohort study showed that the incidence of rebleeding is highest in the first year in end-stage renal disease patients when compared with controls. Consideration should be given to long-term use of proton pump inhibitors or other gastroprotective agents in this at-risk population.
Citation: Wu C, Wu M, Kuo K, et al. Long-term peptic ulcer rebleeding risk estimation in patients undergoing haemodialysis: a 10-year nationwide cohort study. Gut. 2011;60:1038-1042.