More articles from 1-Minute Consult
- What are my obligations to my incarcerated patient?
A court order authorizes a blood transfusion, but the incarcerated patient refuses the transfusion. As the caregiver, am I obligated to follow the court order against the patient’s wishes?
- Does my patient need to be screened or treated for a urinary tract infection?
When patients present with symptoms that suggest but are not clearly diagnostic of urinary tract infection, urine studies should be obtained.
- When should antithrombotic therapy be resumed after gastrointestinal bleeding?
The timing should be individualized after considering factors related to the bleeding event, thromboembolic risk, and patient comorbidities.
Atrial fibrillation: Rate control or rhythm control?Rate control has been preferred as the primary approach, but the pendulum is swinging in favor of rhythm control.
- How do I interpret and use quantitative buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine urine levels?
Confirmatory testing of urine samples can be useful in outpatient settings where buprenorphine dosing is not directly observed. But retaining and engaging the patient in effective treatment should be the ultimate goals of testing.
- How do we maximize diuresis in acute decompensated heart failure?
The initial goal is to maximize loop diuretic therapy using urine output or urinary sodium for guidance. Combination therapy can be used when patients respond poorly to escalating loop diuretic doses.
- What are the considerations in patient selection and timing of risk-reducing mastectomy?
The option of risk-reducing mastectomy is for those at highest risk, and multidisciplinary conversations setting patient expectations are critical for optimal patient outcomes.
- Do all patients with primary pulmonary coccidioidomycosis need antifungal therapy?
Patients diagnosed with this condition who have no symptoms or are mildly symptomatic do not require treatment and can be closely monitored.
- Is exercise restriction necessary in patients with pericarditis?
The authors review current recommendations and illustrate possible approaches through a case scenario.
- Does incidentally detected common bile duct dilation need evaluation?
A patient-centered approach and knowledge of the diagnostic yield of further testing helps determine appropriate management.