JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants articles from April 2003

JAAPA-Journal of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants archives from April 2003

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
April 1, 2003... Table 3 in "Pharmacotherapeutic approaches to treatment resistant depression" (March 2003, page 42) misstates "nefazodone" as "nefazapine" in two places. Table 2 in "Recognition and management of gout and hyperuricemia" (March 2003, page 28)...

Improving trauma outcomes: control is still key.(Editorial)(Editorial)
April 1, 2003... If a recent study is correct, the decline in murder rates across much of the United States may in large part be attributable to improved trauma care. (1) PAs are certainly part of the health care system's response to endemic violence. (2) We...

Angioplasty better than thrombolysis in acute MI.(POEM *)(myocardial infarction)(Author Abstract)
April 1, 2003... Clinical question Is angioplasty better than thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction? Setting Inpatient (any location) Study design Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Synopsis These authors identified 23 randomized...

Revising anticoagulation guidelines for the prevention of recurrent VTE.(In the news: commentary on recent advances in medicine)(venous thromboembolism )
April 1, 2003... For years, the standard management of idiopathic venous thromboembolism (VTE) has consisted of combination therapy involving heparin and warfarin. (1,2) Heparin is administered IV to accomplish immediate anticoagulation, while warfarin is...

ACC/AHA 2002 Guideline update for the management of patients with chronic stable angina--summary article.(Cardiology)(American College of Cardiology)(American Heart Association)
April 1, 2003... A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee on the Management of Patients with Chronic Stable Angina). Circulation. 2003;107:149-158. * The ACC/AHA Task Force on...

Recommendations and rationale: screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults.(Endocrinology)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Available at: http://www.ahrq.gov/ clinic/3rduspstf/diabscr/diabetrr.htm. Accessed February 24, 2003. * The USPSTF has issued its latest evidence-based preventive health services statement updating the...

Are pubertal changes in girls before age 8 benign?(Endocrinology)(Author Abstract)
April 1, 2003... Midyett LK, Moore WV, Jacobsen JD. Pediatrics. 2003;111:47-51. * Recently, the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society released new recommendations for lowering the age for precocious puberty (characterized by breast and pubic hair...

Risk factors for retained instruments and sponges after surgery.(Surgery)(Author Abstract)
April 1, 2003... Gawande AA, Studdert DM, Orav EJ, et al. N Engl J Med. 2003; 348:229-235. * This case-control study of retained foreign bodies in surgical patients attempted to identify risk factors for this type of error. Researchers examined medical...

Cervical spine clearance in adult trauma patients.(CAT Clinic: critically appraised topics: using evidence-based medicine to answer clinical questions)
April 1, 2003... Case: An injured bicyclist A 31-year-old man presents to the emergency department (ED) after losing control of his bike while traveling around a hairpin turn at 30 mph. He reports being thrown 15 ft off a cliff, which caused a broken left...

Managing dog, cat, and human bite wounds: all bite wounds require a uniform general approach to the initial evaluation and wound care. Preventing or managing infection, however, demands clinical savvy.(Bite wounds)
April 1, 2003... Although bite wounds are common, controversy persists regarding appropriate management. This article discusses general care for dog, cat, and human bites--the three most common sources of bite wounds--outlines appropriate antibiotic use, and...

Find out what your colleagues are thinking.(stroke prevention methods)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2003... Asked which of four drugs they were most likely to prescribe for secondary prevention of stroke, a strong majority of PA respondents to JAAPA's February Web poll--68%--chose aspirin. Warfarin was selected by 14%, while 10% of respondents...

Pain management in the emergency department: careful attention to monitoring, knowledge of drug doses and side effects, and individualizing of pain-control regimens will allow you to provide optimal pain management with little risk to the patient.(Pain control)
April 1, 2003... Although the ability to manage pain is a critical skill for any clinician, it is especially important in the emergency department (ED), where many patients present because of trauma and other painful conditions. Unfortunately, clinicians...

Diagnosis: sinus headache or migraine? New insights into the multiple presentations of migraine reveal that many so-called "sinus headache" patients are actually suffering from migraine (1).(Continuing advances in headache diagnosis)
April 1, 2003... Millions of migraine sufferers are undiagnosed 52% of all migraine sufferers remain undiagnosed despite significant advances in migraine research. (2) This means that millions of people are not benefiting from specific treatments that help...

Closed head injury in elderly and nonelderly patients.(diagnosing head injuries with computed tomography)
April 1, 2003... ABSTRACT Aim: To investigate differences in clinical presentation between elderly and nonelderly patients with traumatic closed head injury (CHI). Methods: A retrospective chart review was used to compare the initial presentation of...

Evaluating thoracoabdominal trauma with ED ultrasonography: a focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) has gained widespread use as a diagnostic tool in American EDs. PAs should become familiar with its limitations and advantages.(FAST imaging)(emergency department )
April 1, 2003... As an 11-year-old girl is rushed into the emergency department (ED), paramedics report that the child fell 8 ft from playground monkey bars. She is complaining of left-sided pain and is pale and diaphoretic. Her pulse is thready and too rapid...

CME post-test.(continuing medical education)
April 1, 2003... EXPIRATION DATE APRIL 2004 Please take this CME Post-test online at www.aapa.org. Correira K. Managing dog, cat, and human bite wounds. JAAPA. 2003;16(4):28-30,32,34,37. Graber MA, House H. Pain management in the emergency department....

Increasing hip pain after a fall.(Diagnostic Imaging Review)(diagnosing pelvic fractures)
April 1, 2003... A 72-year-old man arrives in the emergency department complaining of increasing right hip pain radiating to his groin 7 days after falling at home. He reports that the pain has intensified and he needs help walking since the initial visit (the...

Removing a fishhook.(Procedures In Family Practice)
April 1, 2003... The technique used to remove a fishhook depends on the anatomy involved, the degree of penetration, the size of the hook, the presence of barbs on the shaft of the hook, and the skill level of the provider. Fishhooks embedded in the eye or...

CME calendar.
April 1, 2003... MAY 1-2 Endocrine and Infectious Disease Provider: Washington State Academy of PAs. Location: Seattle, Wash. Contact: Linda Krause, (206) 956-3624, LMK@wsma.org 2003 Spring Primary Care Seminar Provider: North Dakota Academy...