JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
-
Editorial Comment
The elusive quest for quality and cost savings in the Medicare program.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Dexmedetomidine vs midazolam for sedation of critically ill patients: a randomized trial.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor agonist medications are the most commonly used sedatives for intensive care unit (ICU) patients, yet preliminary evidence indicates that the alpha(2) agonist dexmedetomidine may have distinct advantages. ⋯ There was no difference between dexmedetomidine and midazolam in time at targeted sedation level in mechanically ventilated ICU patients. At comparable sedation levels, dexmedetomidine-treated patients spent less time on the ventilator, experienced less delirium, and developed less tachycardia and hypertension. The most notable adverse effect of dexmedetomidine was bradycardia.
-
Smoking among patients with mental illness is a major and underappreciated public health problem. The case of Ms G, a 51-year-old woman with bipolar disorder who wishes to quit smoking, illustrates the importance and feasibility of smoking cessation in patients with psychiatric disorders. Persons with chronic mental illness and/or substance abuse constitute 22% of the US population yet are estimated to consume 44% of cigarettes. ⋯ In the past, mental health clinicians have tended not to address smoking cessation with their patients, but increasing evidence suggests that such reticence is unwarranted, as smoking cessation in this population is feasible. The approach to cessation should include standard interventions of counseling and pharmacotherapy, for which substantial evidence of efficacy exists in patients with and without mental illness. If patients with mental illness are to achieve wellness, smoking cessation must be an integral component of their treatment regimen.