Journal Club - Tranexamic Acid in Trauma

Journal Club - Tranexamic Acid in Trauma

The use of TXA in the care of the trauma patient has become prevalent since the publication of the MATTERs and CRASH-2 studies which demonstrated significant mortality benefits in trauma patients who received early TXA after admission. Since these publications, there continues to be several additional questions regarding its TXA: 1) If earlier treatment with TXA for the trauma patient is better, would there be benefit in its administration in the prehospital setting? 2) Is there benefit to the use of TXA in patients with TBI to prevent the progression and subsequent morbidity and mortality? 3) Lastly, does TXA carry a significant risk for side effects, including venous thromboembolic events? This journal club reviewed four articles that aim to answer these questions.

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Vitamin C. . . The Holy Grail for Sepsis Treatment?

Vitamin C. . . The Holy Grail for Sepsis Treatment?

It is hard not to get excited about a new treatment for sepsis,  a disease that kills over 300,000 people each year in the US.  However, there have been so many false promises in the past, it is appropriate to be skeptical.  A recent study published online by the journal Chest is turning heads . . . not only because it appears extremely effective, but also because it is a simple, inexpensive treatment.  Could this be the silver bullet we have all been looking for?

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