More articles from 1-Minute Consult
- How soon after hip fracture surgery should a patient start bisphosphonates?
Starting a bisphosphonate too soon after surgery could disrupt bone remodeling and delay fracture repair.
- Should healthy people take a multivitamin?
No. There is no scientific basis for recommending vitamin-mineral supplements to the healthy population.
- Are antibiotics indicated for the treatment of aspiration pneumonia?
Yes, for primary bacterial aspiration pneumonia and secondary bacterial infection of aspiration (chemical) pneumonitis, but not for uncomplicated chemical pneumonitis.
- Can patients with COPD or asthma take a beta-blocker
Yes, if they really need one. We would choose a cardioselective agent.
- Do incretin drugs for type 2 diabetes increase the risk of acute pancreatitis?
Probably not. The risk is higher in type 2 diabetes regardless of treatment.
- Should patients with mild asthma use inhaled steroids?
Yes—but only if we consider the severity of the asthma, the goals of therapy, and the benefits and risks.
- Does vitamin D deficiency play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure? Do supplements improve survival?
Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure, but whether giving patients supplements improves their survival is not clear.
- When should serum amylase and lipase levels be repeated in a patient with acute pancreatitis?
In general, repeating these measurements has no value once the diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is made.
- Should we routinely screen for hypercapnia in sleep apnea patients before elective noncardiac surgery?
Yes. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome is often undiagnosed and greatly increases perioperative risk.
- Is an ACE inhibitor plus an ARB more effective than either drug alone?
No. Dual renin-angiotensin system blockade has never been shown to reduce the rates of morbidity or death from any cause.