[HSF] picture - not entirely OT

[Tea Acuff]

Dig is not very useful any more. Now we can put patients that are 2-3 days post op on IV drips with much newer and expensive drugs and that are converted in a few days to a PO expensive drug all the while limiting the strenuous effort of ambulation. 

With a dose of dig they may convert and there is no chance to bill or treat the patient for several days duration. They might be discharged home.

The literature is replete that antiarrythmic drugs are much more useful to the patient than simple rate control for most patients, which is why cardiologists and now surgeons so much favor them.

Or so i guess....caveat emptor. 

tea


----- Original Message ----
From: gabi ford <gabiford at hotmail.com>
To: OpenHeart-L at lists.hsforum.com
Sent: Monday, July 2, 2007 11:00:25 PM
Subject: Re: [HSF] picture - not entirely OT


From: Hgrmd at aol.com
>   Gorgeous.


Thanks, Hal.
I hardly ever give digitalis anymore.  Some to chronic CHF folks.  We don't 
use it for post open heard a-fib anymore.  Now we use Amiodarone (Cordarone) 
and beta blockers.
I liked the little bit of kick the patient got from Dig...and you did not 
have to worry about hypotension.  ;)

Gabi


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