BACKGROUND The effectiveness of early switch and early discharge strategies in patients with community-acquired pneumonia remains unknown. METHODS We searched the MEDLINE, HEALTHSTAR, EMBASE, Cochrane Collaboration, and Best Evidence databases from January 1, 1980, to March 31, 2000, for community-acquired pneumonia studies that included specific switch criteria or recommendations to switch o...

BACKGROUND We have previously reported the use of a hospital based respiratory nurse service (Acute Respiratory Assessment Service, ARAS) to support home treatment of patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A controlled trial was undertaken to compare early discharge with home treatment supported by respiratory nurses with conventional hospital management of...

BACKGROUND The aim of our study was to ascertain factors that favor early discharge and predict mortality in post-percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) patients. METHODS Successive patients who underwent successful PEG placement during a 10-year period in a single New York City hospital were included in the study. Data was retrospectively extracted from hospital electronic medical records...

BACKGROUND Hospitals are under pressure from admissions of increasing numbers of older people. Older people may suffer unnecessary activity limitation after acute illnesses through lack of appropriate rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE To evaluate an early discharge and rehabilitation service for older people. DESIGN A randomised controlled trial comparing an early discharge and rehabilitation with ...

Hypoxia-induced short-term potentiation (STP) of respiratory motor output is manifested by a progressive increase in activity after the acute hypoxic response and a gradual decrease in activity on termination of hypoxia. We hypothesized that STP would be differentially expressed between physiologically defined phrenic motoneurons (PhrMNs). Phrenic nerve "single fiber" recordings were used to ch...

Early Supported Discharge Trialists. Services for reducing duration of hospital care for acute stroke patients. QUESTION: In patients admitted to hospital with acute stroke, do early supported discharge (ESD) services accelerate return to home, improve patient outcomes, and reduce resource use?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Early supported discharge from a stroke unit reduces the length of hospital stay. Evidence of a benefit for the patients is still unknown. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the long-term effects of an extended stroke unit service (ESUS), characterized by early supported discharge. The short-term effects were published previously. METHODS We performed a randomized co...

BACKGROUND The length of postnatal hospital stay has declined over the last 40 years. There is little evidence to support a policy of early discharge following birth, and there is some concern about whether early discharge of mothers and babies is safe. The Cochrane review on the effects of early discharge from hospital only included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) which are problematic in ...