No abstract

Aerosolized surfactant was well tolerated when administered on a continuous basis for up to 5 days; however, at the doses given, it did not result in significant improvements in patients with sepsis-induced ARDS.

There is a sufficient amount of fentanyl available for abuse and misuse after 3 days of therapeutic use. Adequate disposal policies currently are not established and need to be implemented.

A 36-year-old male became intoxicated from fentanyl by heating and inhaling the contents from a fentanyl patch. He collapsed immediately after one inhalation with a respiratory rate of 6/m, heart rate of 120 bpm, and unobtainable blood pressure. He responded to a naloxone injection. Inhalation abuse of fentanyl base is a novel phenomenon. In two studies of nebulized fentanyl at doses of 64-318 micrograms of fentanyl base, analgesia was achieved with these doses, and small decreases in respiratory rate occurred with the larger dose. The greater absorption expected from inhaling the volatilized product, the large quantity of fentanyl available in a patch, and the high potency of fentanyl produces a high potential for abuse and overdose.

Low-dose rFVIIa appears to be an effective, rapid reversal modality for major bleeding events in the presence of warfarin and an elevated INR. The agent's response is quicker than that expected with fresh frozen plasma combined with vitamin K. In emergency situations, rFVIIa 1.2 mg can be used to reverse the anticoagulant effect of warfarin and other vitamin K antagonists without inducing a hypercoagulable state; the product, however, is expensive.