Brian L Erstad

There is little evidence that patient weight is associated with pain response to morphine in the emergency department (ED). The primary outcome of this study is to identify demographic variables including patient weight that are associated with an adequate pain reduction after the first dose of morphine.

PMID: 7671041;Abstract:

Fluid-delivery rates of five small-volume infusion-pump syringes were compared. The study consisted of a comparison of the infusion-pump syringes in their respective infusion pumps (1) set for continuous delivery at 1 mL/hr, (2) set for continuous delivery at 3 mL/hr, and (3) set to deliver 1- mL bolus volumes during continuous delivery at 4 mL/hr. The Lifecare prefilled 30-mL syringe (Abbott), the DBL 30-mL syringe no. 770205 (DBL Inc.), and the Pump-Jet 30-mL syringe no. 1931 (International Medication Systems) were tested in the Lifecare PCA Plus II infusion pump no. 4100 (Abbott). The 30-mL Pump-Jet syringe no. 1911 (International Medication Systems) and the DBL 30-mL syringe no. 709700 (DBL Inc.) were tested in the Stratofuse PCA infusion pump (Baxter). The infusion pumps were set to deliver fluid continuously at 1 mL/hr for 30 hours, and the solutions were collected separately and weighed. The procedure was repeated with the infusion rate set at 3 mL/hr for 10 hours. For the third part of the study, each syringe was tested to deliver 1-mL boluses with 0, 5, 15, and 25 mL removed from the syringe. The solutions were collected and weighed before and after each bolus was delivered. The volume of solution collected was calculated by using the specific gravity of the solution. The syringes delivered significantly different volumes during the first hour of infusion at both the 1- and 3- mL/hr rates. Differences also existed across time for most of the syringes. Bolus volumes varied greatly after infusion of 0 or 5 mL of fluid but were acceptable for the remainder of the infusions. Significant differences were also observed between the pumps for all tests. The five infusion-pump syringes tested did not deliver fluid accurately or consistently for 30 hours at 1 mL/hr or 10 hours at 3 mL/hr. The syringes' delivery of intermittent 1- mL bolus volumes during continuous delivery at 4 mL/hr depended on the amount of fluid already delivered and the infusion pump used.

PMID: 10669188;Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To review studies and drug therapy relating to the treatment of hypertension in perioperative patients. DATA SOURCES: Articles were selected from a MEDLINE search (1966-August 1998), and several textbooks on hypertension and surgery were reviewed. In addition, bibliographies of all articles and textbook chapters were studied for articles not found in the computerized searches. STUDY SELECTION: Clinical studies involving hypertension in the perioperative setting were included. The initial search was limited to studies conducted in humans and published in English. DATA EXTRACTION: Information regarding drug therapy was reviewed and guidelines were constructed for managing surgical patients with acute blood pressure elevations. DATA SYNTHESIS: Although nitroprusside and nitroglycerin, with their short onset of action and duration of effect, are indicated for hypertensive emergencies, a variety of agents are available for hypertensive urgencies. An algorithm that can be used as a template for the development of intrainstitutional guidelines is provided. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the scarcity of comparative trials, decisions involving agents for the treatment of perioperative hypertension must often be made based on combined efficacy, toxicity, cost, and convenience considerations.

PMID: 11573859;Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To review the use of systemic hemostatic medications for reducing bleeding and transfusion requirements with cardiac surgery. DATA SOURCES: Articles were obtained through computerized searches involving MEDLINE (from 1966 to September 2000). Additionally, several textbooks containing information on the diagnosis and management of bleeding associated with cardiac surgery were reviewed. The bibliographies of retrieved publications and textbooks were reviewed for additional references. STUDY SELECTION: Due to the large number of randomized investigations involving systemic hemostatic medications for reducing bleeding associated with cardiac surgery, the article selection process focused on recent randomized controlled trials, metaanalyses, and pharmacoeconomic evaluations. DATA EXTRACTION: The primary outcomes extracted from the literature were blood loss and associated transfusion requirements, although other outcome measures such as mortality were extracted when available. DATA SYNTHESIS: Although the majority of investigations for reducing cardiac bleeding and transfusion requirements have involved aprotinin, evidence from recent meta-analyses and randomized trials indicates that the synthetic antifibrinolytic agents, aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid, have similar clinical efficacy. Additionally, aminocaproic acid (and to a lesser extent tranexamic acid) is much less costly. More comparative information of hemostatic agents is needed relative to other outcomes (e.g., reoperation rates, myocardial infarction, stroke). There is insufficient evidence to recommend the use of desmopressin for reducing bleeding and transfusion requirements in cardiac surgery, although certain subsets of patients may benefit from its use. CONCLUSIONS: Of the medications that have been used to reduce bleeding and transfusion requirements with cardiac surgery, the antifibrinolytic agents have the best evidence supporting their use. Aminocaproic acid is the least costly therapy based on medication costs and transfusion requirements.

The American College of Clinical Pharmacy 2013 Educational Affairs Committee was charged with developing recommendations for the minimum qualifications required for clinical pharmacy practice faculty in United States colleges and schools of pharmacy with respect to education, postgraduate training, board certification, and other experiences. From a review of the literature, the committee recommends that clinical pharmacy practice faculty possess the following minimum qualifications, noting that, for some positions, additional qualifications may be necessary. Clinical pharmacy practice faculty should possess the Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education–accredited institution. In addition, faculty should have completed a postgraduate year one (PGY1) residency or possess at least 3 years of direct patient care experience. Faculty who practice in identified areas of pharmacotherapy specialization, as identified by American Society of Health-System Pharmacists postgraduate year two (PGY2) residency guidelines, should have completed a PGY2 residency in that area of specialty practice. Alternatively, faculty should have completed a minimum of a PGY1 residency and 1 additional year of practice, with at least 50% of time spent in their area of specialization, which is documented in a portfolio, or 4 years of direct patient care in their area of specialization, which is documented in a portfolio. Fellowship training or a graduate degree (e.g., Ph.D.) should be required for research-intensive clinical faculty positions. All faculty should obtain structured teaching experience during or after postgraduate training, preferably through a formal teaching certificate program or through activities documented in a teaching portfolio. A baseline record of scholarship should be obtained before hire as clinical pharmacy practice faculty through exposure in postgraduate programs or previous employment. Faculty should be board certified before hire or attain board certification within 2 years of hire through the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) or, if appropriate for the practice area, through a nonBPS-certifying agency. If no certification exists in the area of specialty, the faculty member should develop a portfolio with evidence of excellence in clinical practice, teaching, and scholarship.