RK.md -

Tranexamic acid (“TXA”, Cyklokapron) is an analog of the amino acid lysine that works as an antifibrinolytic by binding lysine receptor sites on plasminogen to competitively inhibit its conversion to plasmin - the enzyme responsible for…
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Isoproterenol (Isuprel) is a nonselective beta adrenergic agonist structurally very similar to epinephrine which I use most commonly in the electrophysiology (EP) lab to induce tachyarrhythmias for the electrophysiologist to map out and…
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Last month I upgraded my Apple Watch Series 3 to the Series 4, and today, I finally received a black Milanese loop to go with it!
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Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is a first generation antihistamine which blocks H1 histamine receptors. Unlike many second generation antihistamines, first generation medications like diphenhydramine cross the blood-brain barrier and inhibit…
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After my critical care boards yesterday, I went to "reward" myself by upgrading my iPhone X to the iPhone XS Max. When I was an Android user, I always enjoyed the larger form factor handsets (Pixel 2 XL, Samsung Note, etc.), and now I can…
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Factor eight inhibitor bypass agent (FEIBA) is a plasma derived procoagulant that contains primarily factors II (prothrombin) and activated factor X (final common pathway for the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways). It also contains factors…
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I sat for my written critical care boards this morning, and just as advertised, it was a tough exam indeed! Unlike many of the other standardized exams I've taken in my training thus far, there really was no consensus regarding study…
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Propofol (Diprivan) is perhaps the most well known intravenous hypnotic used in perioperative and intensive care medicine. This "milk of amnesia" is prepared in a lecithin-based (purified egg yolk) emulsion. Similar to many other IV…
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The bispectral index (BIS) monitor is a noninvasive derivative of the electroencephalogram (EEG) used to assess the depth of anesthesia to help prevent intraoperative awareness - a rare (~ 0.1% of general anesthetics) but serious…
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