November 2015 Tucson critical care journal club: atrial fibrillation in sepsis

• Main Authors: Nahapetian RR, Gerald J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Arizona Thoracic Society 2015-12-01
• Series: Southwest Journal of Pulmonary and Critical Care
• Subjects: sepsis; atrial fibrillation; beta blocker; beta blockers; calcium channel blocker; digoxin; amiodarone; mortality; outcomes; observational
• Online Access: http://www.swjpcc.com/critical-care-journal-club/2015/12/11/november-2015-tucson-critical-care-journal-club-atrial-fibri.html

No abstract available. Article truncated at 150 words. Sepsis is a major public health concern in the United States (1). Nearly one-third of in-hospital deaths are the result of sepsis (2). Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is the most common arrhythmia in sepsis and its development portends worse outcomes (3). Current guidelines recommend cardioversion in hemodynamically unstable patients with sepsis; however, there is scant evidence to guide the choice between amiodarone, beta-blockers, calcium-channel blockers, and digoxin (4). In patients with decompensated heart failure, digoxin and amiodarone are preferred over beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers (4). In patients with multiple organ failure there is no evidence to suggest any one agent is superior to the others. This study by Walkey et al. sought to identify current practice patterns in the pharmacologic treatment of A-fib among hospitalized patients with sepsis and to compare outcomes after controlling for potential confounding variables. This retrospective cohort study used a nationally representative source of hospital billing ...