Cleveland Clinic journal of medicine
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Preliminary clinical trials suggest that therapeutic hypothermia might improve the outcomes of patients with acute stroke. Definitive trials are under way.
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Although intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (i.v. tPA) has been approved for treating acute ischemic stroke, it must be given within 3 hours of stroke onset and only after ruling out hemorrhagic stroke by computed tomography. Several medical centers are turning to angiography to guide intra-arterial infusion of thrombolytic agents and mechanical endovascular interventions.
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No single imaging study or blood test is 100% sensitive and specific for pulmonary embolism. A combination of pretest clinical probability assessment, noninvasive pulmonary imaging (V/Q scanning or spiral CT), and D-dimer testing seems prudent before pursuing pulmonary angiography.
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The Assessment of Cardioversion Using Transesophageal Echocardiography (ACUTE) trial compared cardioversion following transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) against conventional management of atrial fibrillation (ie, cardioversion following 3 weeks of anticoagulation) in patients scheduled to undergo electrical cardioversion.
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Endometriosis is a chronic disease that may have life-altering implications such as chronic pelvic pain and infertility. The following review will familiarize the practicing physician with available therapies to maintain and enhance reproductive potential and control pelvic pain in women with endometriosis.