Department Blog - February 2017

R. Gentry Wilkerson, MD, has received a grant from Pfizer, Inc., to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rivipansel in the treatment of vaso-occlusive crisis in hospitalized patients with sickle cell disease. Rivipansel is a new drug that reduces cell adhesion and inflammation and therefore could have a variety of clinical applications. Dr. Wilkerson’s multicenter trial will test its ability to improve blood flow in people with sickle cell disease and thus alleviate their pain. The grant is in the amount of $342,232.

Mike Winters, MD, and three other members of the Clinical Practice Committee of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine have a clinical practice paper in the March issue of The Journal of Emergency Medicine (52[3]:379?384). Its title asks, “Does Early Goal-Directed Therapy Decrease Mortality Compared with Standard Care in Patients with Septic Shock?” Based on a review of critical care articles published between 2010 and 2015, the authors concluded that early goal-directed therapy does not convey a benefit in terms of mortality rate compared with standard care. Critical components in the management of septic shock remain early recognition, prompt administration of the right antibiotic, source control, aggressive fluid resuscitation, and use of vasoactive medications when indicated to maintain adequate mean arterial pressure.

Amal Mattu, MD, presented the keynote address during the 30th anniversary celebration of the Emergency Medicine Section, Royal Society of Medicine, in London on January 27. The title of his lecture was "Everyday Leadership: Secrets of Great Minds Through the Ages."