More articles from 1-Minute Consult
- Is it safe to start steroids at home for a COPD exacerbation after virtual assessment in the COVID-19 era?
Yes. Corticosteroids are beneficial, and virtual visits are appropriate, especially in this pandemic.
- How should you assess glycemic control if the hemoglobin A1c is inaccurate or uninterpretable?
Hemoglobin A1c is the standard but is not perfect. Alternatives are available.
- Does my healthy 65-year-old patient still need the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13)?
The short answer is no—but it is not that simple.
- When is contrast needed for abdominal and pelvic CT?
The decision to use contrast depends on the diagnosis suspected.
- Should we give triple therapy to patients with atrial fibrillation after percutaneous intervention?
Triple therapy is aggressive and carries high risks of bleeding and death.
- Should women with HPV-related noncervical cancers be considered at high risk for cervical cancer?
Yes. Lacking guidelines, close surveillance is prudent.
- Should we monitor troponin up to peak value when evaluating for acute coronary syndrome?
No. Once troponin is over the 99th percentile, finding the peak value does not aid in diagnosis.
- Does a short QT interval increase the risk of cardiac death in healthy people?
No, but it may warrant further investigation to determine if the patient is at risk.
- Is it safe to continue biologic agents during surgery in patients with inflammatory bowel disease?
Patients taking monoclonal antibodies can continue taking them, but small-molecule drugs should be withheld.
- What mask should I wear to protect against transmissible acute respiratory infections?
Clinical trials have not shown a direct advantage for N95 respirators vs surgical masks for many acute respiratory infections.