Oxytocin (Pitocin) is a neuropeptide hormone synthesized in the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary gland. Its biological function spans everything from “milk letdown” in lactation and uterine contraction during the latter stages of labor to enhancing trust/attachment between individuals and a role in sexual arousal.
Povidone-iodine (Betadine) is a topical antiseptic I use for patients with allergies/sensitivities to chlorhexidine before invasive procedures (chest tubes, lumbar drains, central lines, etc.) in the ICU and OR settings. During emergent cardiac surgeries, sometimes all we have time for is a “Betadine splash” before performing life-saving interventions.
Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is an antiseptic solution found in everything from the mouthwash patients receive while on mechanical ventilation to Tegaderm CHG dressings and Biopatches to cover everything from arterial lines to peripheral ECMO cannulas. Let’s certainly not forget about the CHG bath done before surgery!
Isolyte® S is a balanced crystalloid solution created by B. Braun Medical Inc. As a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and intensivist, it’s the crystalloid I use the most in the perioperative and ICU settings. Compared to lactated Ringers, here are the constituents of the two fluids:
Enoxaparin (Lovenox) is a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) routinely administered subcutaneously (SC) for prophylaxis or treatment of deep vein thrombosis, acute pulmonary embolism, and even medically-managed STEMIs (+/- percutaneous coronary interventions).
Tigecycline (Tygacil) is an intravenous glycylcycline antibiotic used to treat a variety of skin/soft tissue infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and community-acquired pneumonia (NOT hospital/ventilator-acquired pneumonia).
The “banana bag” is a colloquial term referring to isotonic crystalloid fluid premixed with thiamine, folic acid, and a multivitamin (which creates the characteristic yellow coloration). Some clinicians opt for a banana bag when treating acute alcohol intoxication due to the associated vitamin and mineral deficiency.
Synthetic human angiotensin II (Giapreza) is an intravenous vasopressor approved in late 2017 for septic or other distributive shock states. Normally, renin is released by the kidneys in response to decreased perfusion pressure in the renal arterioles, decreased salt concentration at the macula densa, and increased sympathetic stimulation. Renin cleaves…
Doxycycline is an oral and intravenous bacteriostatic tetracycline antibiotic which binds to the 30S bacterial ribosomal subunit rendering protein synthesis ineffective. This class of antibiotics has a broad range encompassing some coverage for MRSA, gram negatives, and atypical organisms. Among these are early Lyme disease, vibrio, brucellosis, Q fever, anthrax,…
Rifampin is the most commonly used oral/IV antibiotic among the rifamycins (rifabutin, rifapentine, etc.) Rifampin acts at the level of RNA transcription by inhibiting bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This drug has excellent oral bioavailability and tends to concentrate intracellularly. Classically, rifampin is used in combination with medications like isoniazid to…