The New England journal of medicine
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Anemia may have adverse effects in patients with coronary artery disease. However, the benefit of blood transfusion in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction and various degrees of anemia is uncertain. ⋯ Blood transfusion is associated with a lower short-term mortality rate among elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction if the hematocrit on admission is 30.0 percent or lower and may be effective in patients with a hematocrit as high as 33.0 percent on admission.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Patients at high risk of death after lung-volume-reduction surgery.
Lung-volume-reduction surgery is a proposed treatment for emphysema, but optimal selection criteria have not been defined. The National Emphysema Treatment Trial is a randomized, multicenter clinical trial comparing lung-volume-reduction surgery with medical treatment. ⋯ Caution is warranted in the use of lung-volume-reduction surgery in patients with emphysema who have a low FEV1 and either homogeneous emphysema or a very low carbon monoxide diffusing capacity. These patients are at high risk for death after surgery and also are unlikely to benefit from the surgery.